[wade clark]

I used to burn willow almost exclusively for firewood, but it wasn't weeping willow. It would dry just fine in 6 months for firewood (not dry enough for carving wood). I've heard of buggy shafts carved out of it green, then buried in a creekbed for 6 months and cured, came out hard and durable.
I've carved some large carvings out of green wood, sealing it after each time of carving, in Anchorseal, a water-soluable wax, then just carving right through the wax next time I worked on it. I have a couple chairs that are still over 350 lbs, carved green and kept sealed in Anchorseal, 28 months since I started carving on them, and still no cracks...BUT the right way to do it is get kiln dried wood and glue up blocks to form the shape you need, then you don't have to worry about lots of time lost to a split. If you're just carving for the enjoyment of it carve some green and experiment. Have fun!
Wade

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Not hard to dry here! A piece of wood will dry in oh...maybe 10 15 minutes or so LOL...... (actually a few months.....have problem with shoots too on willow)

[wade clark]

of course, it suffers from spontaneous combustion in Arizona! but who needs fire wood there? I did see it snow in Tucson once!

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Originally Posted by wade clark

of course, it suffers from spontaneous combustion in Arizona! but who needs fire wood there? I did see it snow in Tucson once!

I think pigs flew that day too! lol (I put all this adverse stuff in to keep the migration down lol.............getting too many people in this state!"

[susieq]

It does snow in Tucson everynow and then....gives real meaning to the expression, "when hell freezes over...."

My dad was stationed there back in the mid 1950's and our picture window looked out at Mt. Lemon which was nearly always with a snow cap on it.
One year it did snow pretty hard and broke tree branches.......

As for willow wood, I picked up a nice looking block of wood from a vendor at our show one year. It was stamped "willow". The vendor was not a regular at our show and I never saw them again after that. I haven't used that piece of wood yet, but it looked a lot like basswood. I think I should probably get it off the shelf and use it.....it is probably a lot harder than basswood. If I use it anytime soon I will let you know.
susieq

[Ron Davidson]

Years ago I was in Tucson and saw it snow was the finniest thing to watch those people try and drive on it and walk on it. Looked like pigs on roller skates.

Here we call weeping willows whipping willows because of the good ole kansas winds. Darn things will beat heck out of you. Don't know how it carves.

[Thomp]

I carved some willow from a tree i cut out of the back yard, looks exactly same leaves but dont grow to the weaping willow leingth, they call it creek willow, heck i dont knowif its even a true willow,
the wood was much like basswood but the darker grains were a bit harder than any basswood i carved but not hard as pine by any means,
really a pretty good subistute for whittling if you couldnt find basswood,,, but its not stocked as i know of.

i got a scymore(sp) down after them high winds, yesterday,
dont know about it for carving,,, i seen it plane sawn before looks like popular and its got really nice flecks in the quartersawn boards, but the wood grain looked tangled..

anyone for a winner roast?

[againstthegrain]

Originally Posted by 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

Is there a website that lists the information on the types of wood and the risks involved in working with them?

[wacky1]

I use a lot of willow and haven't had to much splitting. I was told if the branch sends out sprouts, plant them for more trees. I use wax seems to work out. I like carving green, then when completed I let dry with plastic. I also use water and alcohol mix spray it when carving.
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