Why Basswood?

[DaveW]

Hi. I'm just venturing into carving, and wondered - why does everyone recommend basswood? I haven't tried it yet (obviously - or I probably wouldn't be asking), but was intrigued - what properties make it so good for carving?

[Claude]

Even in color, and light-to-near-white, so it can take paint well.

Little difference between the "hard" part and the "soft" part of the grain, unlike pine, for example.

Relatively soft, even though it's a hardwood variety.

Holds detail reasonably well (tupolo is better, but much more expensive, I'm told)

Those are just off the top of my head; I'm sure others have additional/better reasons.

Claude

[watercarving]

I have an article that covers the basics on this. You can find it here.

Thanks!

[James A]

If you want to see how basswood carves, might I suggest going through Heinecke. The quality of the wood they sale is excellent.

[hruukki]

Hi Dave,
I'm a beginner as well and all I can say about basswood is: wow. I worked several months with what I could get here: birch, red alder, some cherry to try it out, mahogany. Then I found out a place to get basswood. The first time I sunk my tools in it was like: "Oh right, this is carving, now I get it!"
Basswood doesn't struggle back, that's why it's so great.

[Thomp]

Originally Posted by DaveW

Hi. I'm just venturing into carving, and wondered - why does everyone recommend basswood? I haven't tried it yet (obviously - or I probably wouldn't be asking), but was intrigued - what properties make it so good for carving?

even the worst basswood i have carved is better than anything else i have carved, its like it it is lubricated or has oil asorbed inside it, infact first of it i carved i swore it smelled of olive oil..

it dont split out like pine, it wont fight you like most hard woods,

to compair go to a cabinet shop and buy a box of different species of ends and drops, identify each wood and carve a little on each,
then try basswood,

youll know what all the carvers are suggesting..

now im not saying basswood is the only good carving wood, but other woods are dependant of what your carving and the amount of detail your needing

[DaveW]

Thanks everyone for the great replies!

(Here's my confession of the day - I've been carving with chunks of random 2x4s lying around. They haven't been bad for me when I make sure the tools are sharp, but they periodically get frustrating when a huge chunk just tears off)

About Heinecke, is this the site?
http://www.heineckewood.com/blockwood1.htm
http://www.heineckewood.com/order.htm

[Mitchell]

Yes. That is the site.

[Lightningbolt]

I carved quite sucessfully for decades never touching a piece of basswood. Then when I got involved with the boy scouts the local council began donating a lot of basswood to our troop, so my love for the stuff has gradually crept up on me over the years and now I have a room heavily stocked with that wonderful "white gold".

[Chevi54]

However if some of you do power carving it does not matter to much how cutable the wood is. I am using birch and it power carves beautifully.