Finishing a piece started long ago

[Old Lar]

Hi. I am new to the forum, and I have a question: I have a piece of wild cherry that I started carving on many years ago. It is a very rough shape now, and I only recently got the right tools to really carve. The piece has been in a shed for a long, long time, but now I am hoping to make some progress. I am sure the wood has dried considerably. Can I still get results from it? Should I consider oiling the wood first to add some moisture? I am thinking either linseed or lemon oil, if so. I guess I could just drag it out and start trying, but I was hoping for some guidance first. What do you think?

Thanks.

Old Lar

[Claude]

Welcome to the forum!

The generally accepted method for re-moisturizing a piece of wood is to spritz a 50-50 mix of isopropyl alcohol (rubbing...) and water on the wood. Spritz, carve a bit, spritz again, carve again, etc.

Cherry is an extremely hard wood to carve with a knife, but it carves well with mallet and gouges if you take relatively small cuts. Holds detail very well.

Claude

[Old Lar]

Thank you! That is very helpful, Santa Claude!

[carver33]

I carved a unicorn in a piece of Cherry that was stored in a shed in the southeast U.S. for many years. I roughed it out with gouges and finished with knife and palm gouges. It was one of the toughest pieces of wood that I've carved, but worth the effort.

I say go for it - but remember to keep your tools SHARP, use the water/alcohol mix and take your time. Best of luck.

[Old Lar]

Thanks. I will let you know how it goes.

[Bob K.]

I agree with Claude. IPA and water is the best way to go. I use it all the time on tough pieces of wood. It will not only add moisture to the wood but it seems to have a softening effect and make the wood somewhat easier to carve.