[Stryder7]

Hi, a friend of mine has chopped down a huge weeping willow. I was a little late getting there so all that is left is the trunk pieces... no limbs or cane size pieces. I was wondering if I should try to save some of this wood for carving. If so, should I save rounds (with the bark all the way around with the rings showing) or should I save slabs (with the grain going up and down) or should I even bother? I'm in mid BC Canada and don't know if this wood is good for carving or not. I have no idea if it is like the willow wood you have on the east coast-or if it matters.

thanks for reading my ramblings,

Marianne

[Thomp]

Marianne,

heavily coat the raw ends and where the bark is broken with parifine wax or something that will make it dry through the bark naturaly to keep down splitting,

store it to dry 1 inch of thickness per year.

i think its lots better to carvethan pine..

[Kenny_S]

Thompm is right on using the wax. If you don't have wax, just paint the ends with paint. Or use what you have as long as the ends are sealed to allow the wood dries from the inside. ABout an inch per year drying time.
I have some would in the garage that is still drying as it is some thick stuff and only been cut for 2 years.

[BobD]

Just be careful carving or sanding willow! According to the Woodworker's Pocket Reference, Willow is a "Great Sensitizer" for nasal cancer! Great refers to how much of a risk there is (and great is the highest rating on the charts). Sensitizer means that inhalling the willow dust makes it more likely for you to get nasal cancer...while it may not cause the cancer directly, it will make you more succeptable to it!

Just wear your dust mask and keep an air cleaner going!!!

Bob

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

If its like our local "Navajo willow or Globe willow" it gets hard after its dry but carves pretty good when green.

[Colin_Partridge]

Just my two cents worth. Willow is a beautiful wood to carve it carves a lot like bass wood. Only problem with willow is once you cut it down you will have problems stopping it growing. Even months after you cut it, it will sprout new growth.
Colin

[Stryder7]

thanks for all the info. I have picked up a couple of pieces and have used the wax on them. The sprouts have already started but will keep knocking them off. Hope it works out....lol... won't know for a few years...I will be very careful with sanding and stuff, I did hear about the 'sensitizers' before.

Marianne

[Thomp]

If you want to carve some of it green, im sure you could lop off a block before sealing it, then seal the log.
make sure the project is not a center cut, dont use the core,,,as the radil stress is more in the core i heard. or something about if you leave the core its sure to crack down the side.

you hear all kinds of stuff but without experianceing the situation you dont know for sure.. and i wouldnt bet on anything beyond this.

i heard:
or i think i remember reading of the old carvers carving alder green, keeping it damp with a damp towell until they was done carving it, and then sealing it with what they had wax or varnish, or dipping it in blo after it was done,

but i wouldnt try to carve a masterpiece wet

[stickman]

I always hear that willow(weeping) is very hard to dry .A friend of mine cut down a tree and after it was stacked and covered for over 5 years it was still hard to burn in an open fire pit .

[brian bailey]

Here's an informative link concerning wood/dust toxicity.


http://www.gvwg.ca/docs/Articles/WoodToxicity.htm