[brushpilecarvings]

I recently had someone I work with give me a chunk of wood that he thought was basswood. After doing some research online ( http://www.oplin.org/tree/fact%20pag...ittleleaf.html )
I've realized it is littleleaf linden.

My question is, has anyone carved with this wood before? If so, is it any good? Easy to carve? Worth getting more if it's available?

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Linden is what the english call basswood if I remember right and they carve it.

[AlArchie]

According to the Audubon Field Guide, European Linden, is a hybrid of Littleleaf Linden (tilia cordata) and Bigleaf Linden (tilia platyphylos). All are related to but not the same as American Basswood (tilia americana). There is also a southern variety Carolina Basswood (tilia caroliniana).

American (northern) basswood grows north into Canada and as far south as southern Missouri. Carolina basswood shows range across the S from Texas east through N. Carolina.

I'd be guessing that some of the preference for northern basswood is not simply due to the difference in growing season, but also somewhat a difference in species. Seasonal growth rates may have a large factor even though they are different trees.

Al

[wade clark]

Here in Tennessee they say Linden and Basswood are the same. It's Lyme, I believe, that they carve in England, and I've heard it's the same tree. Haven't looked them up in my book though.
Wade

[AlArchie]

Wade, I did a little more looking through references and found that there is a White Basswood in your area of Tennesee that is called Linden or "Bee Tree". This one and American Basswood and Carolina Basswood are native to north America. The rest are introduced species, of which there are over 400, not all, obviously have been introduced here. Some have been planted as smaller varieties of decorative shrubs, and they can "escape" and sometimes grow to somewhat larger size. So there can be all sorts of "basswoods" growing out there.

Anyway, it looks like the term "basswood" can cover a lot of different trees and there seems to be colloqial terms for a lot of them.

Al