Wood too dry?

[arfer1943]

I have started a new carving, but the wood is old stock and feels too dry.

I plan to spray the sufrace with water as I carve, but is there anything else I could consider?

I'm doing a relief carving and the wood has bowed slightly. Obviously I can plane it flat later as required.

Anyone been there?

[Donsexton]

Some may have different advice. Here is mine ant nothing wrong with the wood folks pay large coin for kiln dried wood. Unless its petrified and turned to near stone its just wood.

[William]

I had the same problem a while back and many of the carvers here use a 50/50 mix of water and alcohol.

I bought Isopropyl Alcohol (91* Alcohol) from our local pharmacy and it works great, someone please correct me if I'm wrong but I think the reason for the Alcohol is to keep the wood from being wet for a long period of time, it will dry almost as quickly as you can carve it.