Hello, I'm new to wood carving and chipping. I just wanted to know what the best type of wood would be to use, thank you.

Wax, It depends alot on what your carving and what type tools you will be using. Example, Basswood carves about the best with a knife but when using power tools it gets real fussy. Mahogany is good for relief carving, it carves good with power or knife. Do a search on this site there have been several treads on this topic. Most important thing to remember when starting to carve, Use good woods because if you start on a bad piece you will not enjoy it at all.

Have fun!
Â*

Basswood is excellect for chip carving, shows off the shadows in the carving well. Butternut is also a good wood.

[AlArchie]

Wax, this is just a suggestion, and there are a lot of other approaches, but if you're new to the game, you might want to find a carving club in your area that can get you started in the right direction. Â*If there isn't a local club, check one of the many catalogs, both on line and snail-mail. Â*They have kits available for beginners with one or more pieces of appropriate wood and either a single carving knife or a small set.

If you just picked up a pocket carving knife or bench knife, ANY clear, soft woodwill be good to start 'whittlin' with. White Pine, spruce, cedar, 'white wood' (usually poplar or aspen) picked up at the local lumber company for a reasonable price, or even free for small scraps, often work well.

Check out a JoAnne's fabric shop, or a Michael's craft shop. Â*they stock basswood in small sizes and also have kits available. Â*There are probably a lot of other non-chain hobby stores that can get ya goin' with a reasonably priced start.

My personal favorite is aspen (popple) which you can find in most lumber stores, or maybe for free from an old pallate you might find at store's Â*waste drops, or as scraps from logging operations, if you are fortunate enough to live in the boondocks!.

Al