birch carving

[parkwayman]

Hi,everyone,i have a small question,with what kind of tools do we carve birch.I know that the great irishman do some super great carving with birch.Is it to hard to carve whit hand tool or do we have to do it with power carving tools.thnk you for reading and waiting for your reply. parkwayman!!!!!!!!

[Josef]

The Yellow Birch that I found heaps of, is an absolute dream to carve with any tool, hand or otherwise. It is by far my most favoured timber. Beautiful colours and grain, keeping detail nicely and polishes up to a high gloss with the old oil and beeswax. Happy carving with your Birch. Joe.

[chpster90bu]

I agree with Josef wholeheartedly! I have a lot of small birch trees that have fallen in storms. I've confiscated and debarked them, dried them and cut them up. The wood is excellent to carve and I prefer it over basswood. A creamy soft wood with some fine grain and sometimes designs in the grain. Hand tools are great with this wood. I would assume the same for power. Easy on the hands! Bonnie

[wildflower]

Wow! Thanks parkwayman for asking your question and to Joe and Bonnie for your comments. I've never carved anything but basswood and a little cedar. Lately a lot of the basswood I've been getting is hard as nails. Now I'm eager to try the birch! Bonnie...are you using the yellow or white birch?
Leslie

[seangrady]

Hmmm, maybe I should set aside some of the straighter grain pieces of white birch I've been splitting all day for firewood....

[chpster90bu]

Leslie....as far as I know, I have white birch and silver birch trees. I LOVE carving this wood and have an unlimited supply of 3" to 4" thick logs or smaller, that come down in storms on the property. Do yourself a favor and try it! Bonnie