[Mottles]

Hi All:
I have a friend who has a question that I thought you might be able to help him with. Here is his question:
What (none exotic, untreated) wood types are least likely to split due to wet/dry environmental factors? Currently, I have an Osage Orange hand carved spout to be used on a canteen gourd. Unfortunately, it is starting to crack. I had been thinking that this wood would be highly suitable as it seems fault tolerant and makes wonderful self-backed aboriginal bows. Perhaps nothing better exists?
Any thoughts or suggestions for Tom?
Kathy

[AlArchie]

You might try contacting Lehman's Hardware in Kidron, Ohio. They cater primarily to the Amish of the area, and have storage barells, kegs, etc. in their stock. Among those items are hardwood bungs and barell faucets. If you contact them, they may be ble to give you some info on the type of wood used for these items.

www.lehmans.com

Al

[whitecree]

I thought pretty much any fruit wood was fairly stable? I had a large chunk of cherry that dried rock hard without a single crack.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I have some aspen sticks I brought with me from colorado....no cracks, the basswood doesn't have cracks, actually most of what I have sealed the ends with parafin hasn't cracked! some that had minor cracks were just on the ends, so if the wood is a bit longer, you can cut that part off. Then there is a couple others i.e. globe willow in larger sizes..cracks, some of the palo verde in larger sizes cracked.....size seems to be the secret at least here

[mdallensr]

One of the most stable woods is pattern-grade mahogany. It was used to make foundry patterns, which have to be precisely made and hold their dimensions in all kinds of conditions. I haven't had any small items crack during or after carving, using basswood, butternut, aspen, cherry or walnut. Sounds like the crack/checking you're seeing is due to internal stress, not humidity.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

someday I am going to try mahogany! but then, someday I want to try everything ha ha

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

Sycamore would be a good choice imho. I've dried a lot of it in sizes from 1" to 3" and never had one split.

[Mottles]

Thanks everyone, I knew the carvers here on WCI would have some ideas, suggestions and thoughts. I'll pass the info on to Tom and I know he will be most appreciative.
Kathy

[Claude]

You might consider Olive wood. I've made several working spoons and spatulas out of olive and they see daily use, often sitting in a pan of water in the sink for an hour, then being washed in soap and water, dried on the counter top and thrown back in the drawer. No problems with cracking, even with this kind of abuse.

Claude

[ISpringer]

I have a smallish piece of mid-grade mahogany you are welcome to if you'd like.