CYPRESS KNEES

[STEVE]

WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO THE RAW KNEES BEFORE CARVING. ??? ??? ???

[lorax]

put a bandaid on them :P :P :P :P

Sorry just kidding. If they are dry then I think you can just peel the bark off.

[Kenny_S]

hat is correct lorax. Most of the shops sells the knees already cleaned. I made some lamps with carvings in them. Used cherry for a base and outlined the base of the knee but out 3inches. Beat heck out of a square base. Used tongueoil for protectant.
Safe and happy carving.

I would recommend you acquire them already 'debarked' if at all possible. Even when dry, peeling the bark off is more effort than you would first believe. I have used a pressure washer to strip the bark off, it worked OK and didn't damage the knee but it got kinda messy!

If you need a source for kness try http://www.cypressknee.com/ or http://woodcarvers.com/default.asp

Good luck!

[STEVE]

YES I'VE HEARD THAT CLEANING THE KNEES ARE A CHORE. BUT BEING I LIVE IN LA. AND HAVE ALOT AROUND THE HOUSE. I JUST GET IN MY BOAT AND GO GET THEM. LET ME ADD I DO GET THE OK OF THE LAND OWNER FIRST. I'M NEW TO CARVING AND NEVER THOUGHT OF CARVING KNEES UNTIL I LOOKED AT SOME THE OTHER DAY. HAD THEM IN MY BACK YARD AND NEVER THOUGHT OF USEING THEM. THANKS ALL FOR YOUR HELP.

Steve, the easiest way I know of cleaning the ones laying around your backyard is to boil them first. Makes the bark much easier to peel off.

Teri

[Doug Ridley]

The fresh cut ones are easiest. Rig up some way to boil them and boil for four hours . They will have to be weighted down. Take them out and peel while hot. Bark should come off easily. Oh, add a little bleach to the water to prevent mold. The way I do it is in 55 gal. drums and a propane weedburner. A turkey cooker should work if you can get a way to get it under the drum. If you have never done it before you should try a few small ones on the stove first. If boiling old dry ones I recommend soaking them for a week before boiling. Hope this helps.

[GeorgiaCarver]

I am enjoying the thread.... Went out and got 7 knees Saturday, came home and boiled them about 4 hours as described (they were just cut). Sure enough they peeled great.

I carved one up green but the wood seems a little soft, easy to carve though. Should I let them cure before carving? If so how do you treat them.

Thanks

[Doug Ridley]

Nothing wrong with carving them wet but they will dry out in a few days. No treatment is necessary from here on, just carve.

[rollman]

Originally Posted by Whatsthat

I am enjoying the thread.... Went out and got 7 knees Saturday, came home and boiled them about 4 hours as described (they were just cut). Sure enough they peeled great.

I carved one up green but the wood seems a little soft, easy to carve though. Should I let them cure before carving? If so how do you treat them.

Thanks

I was wondering what you used to cut the knees from the root ? My brother has some Cypress tree's that I can cut knee's from . I planned on using a chainsaw but I'm thinking the saw might chew them up to much .