[Tom H]

I have known for a while that some carvers wet their wood before carving. Before I start spraying, dipping, soaking some wood to try this technique; I thought I better ask a question. I have some nice select pine strips that I carve. Sometimes this pine is just a little hard. Does anyone know the best procedure for wetting this pine to soften it up a bit? Do I soak it in jug of water for hours, or what? Thanks, Tom H

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

try spritzing some rubbing alcohol on it, you can mix with water if your like 50/50, but at about .68 a quart....I take it straight lol

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Mix up a 50/50 solution of alcohol and water and put it in a spray bottle. Just spray the area you're working on. The alcohol will help pull the water into the wood and by spraying it on you don't put so much on that the wood swells. I use the spray for pithy wood more than hard wood. A sharp knife is the real key but the spray will help.

[BobD]

The alcohol also keeps the mildew away!

David Sabol carved all of his caricatures from green pine the he keeps soaked with water; I've never tried it myself. But I have used the alcohol water mix a lot!

Bob

[Kenny_S]

I use the alcohol on the end grains. Spray it on,let soak in, then carve away. End grain carving can dull your tools pretty fast and with the sprayed on alcohol, it helps from dulling the tools as fast.
Now Hi Ho, That don't mean you spray your Jim Beam on a carving.

[Tom H]

Hey Kenny, Hi Ho probably only uses the good stuff on his carvings....Tom H

[BasketballJones]

Here is a WCI link from a Sabol article in 2004. The second link I've had bookmarked for a while cites David Sabols wet technique near the bottom of the page. I've found the technique challenging at times. I like the effects after the pine has dried as it makes the upper fibers tighter. Not mentioned is the compression factor when wet, so make the cuts outside your markings. I take my tool to the strop often and wipe it with a cloth when finnished no sense in ruining a good tool with rust oxide.

http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.co...04/catmeow.php
http://www.lotzdollpages.com/lwoodcv.html