Which way to run grain?

[SmallJawz]

Hello All,

I don’t get to access this board much as I work way to much. I have been carving caricature heads using Marv’s book and have changed the direction of the grain a few times. I find running the grain end to end (up and down) and the grain edges from (face to back of head) seems to carve the best.

Is this so, or just me?

What is the best way to position the grain on a caricature to make carving easier?

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

sounds right to me

[Mitchell]

Definitely. Clean details are not easy in end-grain (understatement). Unless you are just playing around - always plan a carving with the grain up and down. You may need to change the direction based on strength for delicate carvings, but you will learn that much later.

[Colin-Partridge]

I agree grain is something all woodworkers learn and carving against the grain is no fun. It is usually pretty easy to figure the grain out unless your carving cedar and then you never know when its going to to a complete twist. End grain carving is always a challenge and can dull the tools pretty fast as you know. Good luck
Colin

[Anthony Filetti]

...I use the simple formula:

Grain Direction = Strength

...I carve Marv's heads the same way with the grain running bottom to top...with something like a head there are not to many flat spots (shouldn't be) where an end grain would give you an issue. Running the grain horizontally while trying to form the cylinder as instructed in his book would be a royal pain!!

[Shimmy]

Okay everyone agrees with carving with the grain up & down.But if you have a piece 1 1/2 by 1 1/2 which side would you choose for the front of the face?
also I like to have the front of the carving easier carving upward for the face.As you know, even though you are carving with the grain there is a difference carving up or down.One way wants to dig in the other way glides thru the cut.

[birdcarver7]

hey shimmy,i don,t know if this applys to carving decoys,but the grain in the wood,i would think,go,s both way,s,about half way from each end,i have found,just about mid way of the piece of wood,the grain will go outward toward each end,no matter how large the piece of wood,.

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

In my experience you want the grain to be edgewise to the front of the face running in an up and down direction. Like this - As far as your up and down problem, can't help.

[Anthony Filetti]

Shimmy,

...not sure if this helps any, but the grain is part of the learning experience in that the tighter the grain the harder that area of wood is going to be and vice-versa. Other than the grain running vertically I wouldn't pay too much attention to it, as you will have to learn to deal with soft areas in the wood. I know thats probably not what you'd like to hear , but, no matter how well you plan you will run into a soft spot in the wood (sooner or later) and it would be best to learn how you would deal with the issue...in the case of soft areas in the wood I learned that the best way to get through it is to ensure that my tools are VERY sharp.

my two cents...

Tony

[rick-in-seattle]

You have it right, the grain should run top to bottom and back to front.
That will keep the nose from falling off.

Examples