Green Basswood

tucker1931 · #1 03-20-2008, 01:43 AM

My neighbor is a woodsman, he's gonna be cutting several basswood trees down this weekend as part of a bush clearing lot. He's offered me whatever I want. I suggested as amny 4 5 and 6 in diameters by 2 feet as I could get.

, can I start carving it green or should it be dried first and if so How would I go about drying it and for how long?
Cliff

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #2 03-20-2008, 08:50 AM

Geez Tucker, how lucky can you get? Actually...you can get outstanding walking sticks, canes, small limbs for caricatures.....oh be still my heart ha ha

squbrigg · #3 03-20-2008, 09:15 AM

Just get him to lop up the tree and deliver the whole thing! Not much would go to waste around here! That's a nice windfall for you, lucky duck!

Bob

tucker1931 · #4 03-20-2008, 12:12 PM

Thanks guys but, you never answered my question. Should I paint the ends with some cheap latex paint or what while it's green, wet?
Cliff

squbrigg · #5 03-20-2008, 12:28 PM

Dip the ends in wax or paint them with glue or paint, anything to seal them. The standard is an inch a year to cure. If they are logs, then cut them into 3" or 4" slabs to help the process, unless you have a special big project in mind.

Bob

Kenny_S · #6 03-20-2008, 03:18 PM

Short and sweet answer Cliff, Yes, you can paint them with paint. Anything to seal the ends. Latex will work just fine.

Kenny_S · #7 03-20-2008, 03:19 PM

Sorry Bob, You already answered Cliff's question.

tucker1931 · #8 03-20-2008, 04:38 PM

Thanks again gang, it's a go for sure as long as the ground stays solid enough for him to get in there this weekend, I hope I hope.
Cliff

Robert Cahill · #9 03-21-2008, 12:49 PM

Cliff,
The other carving magazine has an article on cutting and drying basswood in the new issue. Hope I'm not breaking any rules by mentioning it

Irishman · #10 03-21-2008, 03:55 PM

I've carved several pieces of green basswood, such as the woodspirit which was set into the wood I posted a while back. I seal the top (and sometimes the bottom) and leave enough wood...say 6 inches or more at each end to lessen the chances of checking. I seal them with log sealer I picked up at lee valley. I don't have the patients to wait for the wood to dry. Not sure what will happen to the carvings in a few months to a year. They may all crack but its pretty hard to prevent them from releasing so I don't worry about it.
Patrick