Green Basswood

[tucker1931]

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. Question, 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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[Kenny_S]

Sorry Bob, You already answered Cliff's question.

[tucker1931]

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]

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]

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