[jmiles]

I have been carving only 6 months. Tupelo sticks, cypress knees, old kitchen table legs. I did one drift wood. That led to paintings and mixed media. I have never done any of this before. I have no classes or training. But I do absolutely love doing something special and giving it to someone (wife, coworker and so on).

I need advice. I have a very good and varied set of tools from draw knife to carving kits. My problem is I don't know what my woods look like (I can go into the forest and identify oak, pine and that is it). Any advice on how to identify wood?

Also, when I carve spirit sticks or staffs, how do I get some of the chip marks worked out? I do ok, but still have a less than "neat" face.

Thank ya'll and if you know anyone in Columbia, SC who has a club or classes let me know!

[jillsy]

Hey Jmiles, can't help you in this area, but it's good to see another newbie joining in!

Jillsy

[wood-whittler]

jmiles,

get in touch with carolina carver he is a member of this board and a freind of mine, he lives in lexington and they have a club there and alot of carvers there,all good people.

bart

[jmiles]

Thanks for the kind words and for Carolina Carver info. We probably know some of the same folks.
Jim

[Tom H]

Welcome Jim. When I first started carving (18 months ago) I started on maple cutoffs from banisters. Big mistake. Almost gave it up before I started. Got ahold of some well seasoned Basswood and am sure glad I did. Going into the woods for wood to carve, thats way too much for me at this point. LOL Get some good Basswood to refine and expand your skills. My 2 cents worth..Tom H

[Doug Ridley]

Welcome aboard, You will like it here. Send pics as soon as you can.

[woodtrapper]

Jmiles, welcome to the club.I do a lot of small hiking trips after work .I have learned to identify trees by their bark .You can also identify the trees by there leaves during the fall as well.As for the removing the chips in your carvings I start with 36 grit sand paper to smoth it out and go up w/the grit no. from there.I carve a lot of wet mountain laurel(rhodendron) and this works well for me.If you try this your sand paper will build up so take a wire brush and scrape it off.Hope this helps.

[Thomp]

theres sites that will show trees

for basswood you cant beat
http://www.heineckewood.com/index.htm for online service while your learning tree identification from an old neighbor
when your wood shipment comes in you can set at that 3 legged table and make some fine carvings ... i know someone will post the link of the botinical site for you if i cant find it ...try this one
http://www.arborday.org/trees/treeID.cfm

Woodtrapper: when sand paper gets clogged, sand the sole of a tennis shoe or similar material before changing paper/film i found this trick saves lots of time if the abrasive isn't worn out... even on dremel or palm sander but they make them belt sander cleaners for this purpose too....

[Donna_T]

Welcome Jim,
Basswood leaves are a lopsided, heart-shape, with sawtooth edge. But southern basswood is a "bit" hard---northern basswood like you get from the source listed above, it like cutting butter (if you have a good, sharp knife.)

If you look in the upper right hand corner of this message board, you will see club search--often you can find a club in your neighborhood this way. However I only see one club listed in SC so try:

Katharine Campbell
South Carolina Crafts Assoc.
P.O. Box 2045
Columbia, SC 29202
Phone: 803.779.8203

We're glad to have you join us--lots of good help and encouragement here. Gobs of great carvers who will share anything they've learned along the way.

Donna T

[susieq]

Hello Jim,
regarding Southern basswood, I would like to ad something to what Donna said..... I have always gotten Northern basswood but my folks live in North Carolina and there was a mill near them. I visited and bought a bunch of basswood because I could get 6x6 and larger....green of course and it shrinks some during the 2-3 year drying process. (coat the ends to prevent spliting.) Well, I sat on this wood for the several years it took to dry properly and it was the worst carving wood I ever had. It was pithy and crumbly and could only be worked with power. Gouges were hopeless on in. Most of it went into the wood pile and then into the woodburning stove. 100 board feet of it. I thought it was a great bargin at a dollar a board foot when I bought it. It wasn't a deal at all.

Northern wood is tighter grain and wonderful to work but that Southern basswood is the pitts.