[JRWilliams056]

Greetings Everyone!
I guess I am one of the "new people also!" My wife found this message board the other day while she was internet surfing (instead of working). I knew of the main site a few weeks back, but hadn't gone in to it very far until now. I have only been seriously carving for about a year (I have carved a bit in the past) I work in a number of artistic mediums). Guess I am looking for, or attempting to narrow down my list of hobbies(?) to do in my retirement. As soon as I take a few photo's of the carvings I have completed thus far, I will post them for all to see/critique. One question I guess I have at this time is what kind of wood is considered to be the best, and possibly least expensive to use? I use both a set of carving tools as well as a Dremmel tool to complete my works. So far, I have used various pieces of driftwood, old barn boards, and cast-off lumber.

Well, Glad to be here, hope to learn a great amount from the experts!

[Anthony Filetti]

JR, glad to have you on board, post some of your work when you get a chance!! Again, welcome!

[AlArchie]

JR. there isn't any "best" wood for carving, just as there are no "best" knives, tools or techniques. There sure are a lot of "favorites", though.

I'd bet that the most popular wood to carve and one of the most economical is basswood.

Then, depending on the type of carving individuals do, will follow found wood (sticks, driftwood, blow-downs, scrap lumber, etc), figured wood, woood carved for color and grain.......well, you get the idea.

I'd recommend starting with basswood for either carving in the round or relief as it is fairly straight grained, carves fairly easily with blades (is a bit fuzzy with power, though) and readilly obtainable.

Al

[JRWilliams056]

AlArchie,

Thanks, sounds like I am on the right track as far as type of wood and such. Just one more question though, "Basswood," I am not exceptionally good at recognizing the "type" of wood that I see on the beaches, around a farm, etc. I do look for wood in various shapes, and least amount of knots for my projects. This might be an odd question, but where is the best place to go to find "Basswood?"

JR

[Mottles]

Hi JR, and welcome. I really don't know which woods are the most poplar, it all boils down to preference. I persoanlly, like Cottonwood and Basswood the best. I have carved Poplar, Butternut and have some Cedar to try. So I guess what I'm saying is try them all and see which ones you like the best.
Looking forward to seeing your carvings.
Kathy
PS: I've seen some beautiful carvings using the woods you listed.

[AlArchie]

Boy, JR, you keep asking "impossible" questions to answer.

But, here goes a try.

Basswood growing (there are three distinct types; American, Carolina, and white) will have deeply vertically striated bark, usually a dark brown/gray to almost black. Trees grow on sloped well drained soil among other hardwoods. Around here, anyway, you are not likely to find pure stands of basswood. The leaves are faily round with serrated edges similar to but much larger than aspen.

There are several on line sources of good carving basswood; Heineke Supply is one that a lot of folks here use.

You can find some pretty decent 12" basswood planks at the big box stores if you want relief carving stock.

It's almost impossible to tell what kind of wood driftwood is if it's been in the water for any lenght of time. Some clues may be found Where you find the driftwood. If it's along a river check the upstream banks to see what kind of trees are growing near the water's edge. These are the ones that get washed down in high water.

Along the great lakes or other large waters,it gets a bit more complicated. Of cours the tributary rivers wash trees into the lakes, too, but eroding high banks can and do dump all sorts of trees into the lakes. Spruce and balsam will have rings of new branches at fairly evenly space distances along the trunk, as a new series of brances is grown each year. Fairly fresh driftwood can still be ID's by smell and maybe even some remnants of bark.....beyond that good luck!

Al

[Irishman]

Hello JR. Your getting good advice on wood so I'll just say welcome to the site.
Patrick