Wood for Carved Furniture

[johntrue]

I'm going to build a large storage/blanket chest (48"x19"x22") and I am planning on carving a very simple relief into the front face. I was wondering if there was a relatively cheap but still good to carve type of wood I could find in a board that is 48"x19". I was thinking I may only get a solid piece for the front face I am carving, and use veneers for the other faces. Any suggestions for wood type?

[pallin]

It is unlikely that you will find a single piece in the 48" x 19" dimension. If so, it will be prohibitively expensive. But you can build up the panel from available boards, being careful to align the grain patterns. Blanket chests are often made of (or lined with) aromatic cedar to ward off moths. I would suggest a hard, close-grained wood for the exterior.

[cut up]

Welcome to the forum, johntrue.
With time, a plan, and good sharp carving tools, just about any type of wood can be carved in. If you are planning to hand carve, most like to use basswood, but there are some folk here that will carve just about anything else. If you are going power carving, some will recommend jelutong. Both are well known for their ease of carving and ability to hold detail. I would recommend staying away from pine, because if it gets hit, it will retain the ding.
I hope this is some help.
Michael

[ajcoholic]

An inexpensive, relatively easy to carve wood that is decent for furniture is American poplar. It does often come in wide boards up to 12 or 14" but you'd still have to laminate two boards.

Other options? Well, keeping in the lesser expensive, and softer woods I would say white pine, alder, basswood... but nothing I buy is cheaper than poplar. And, if you are staining it, poplar has a decent looking grain and is stable.

AJC

[Donsexton]

If you want to use 7 layer cabinet grade plywood for the parts not carved the veneer is just about limitless but not cheap. If you use the finish grade plywood that Lowes sells it mostly comes in red oak veneer and birch both are fine carving woods.

[telecarver]

Alder is a good choice although it's not easy to find in the east.