Problem solved with Danish Oil

[davidinsarasota]

I'm in the final stages of carving a gargoyle out of Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla). I had a hard time deciding whether to go with a sanded surface finish or a tooled finish, which preserves the channels and ridges made by the gouge. Either would have worked with this piece since there are plenty of interesting contours so that a smooth surface would not have been bland and boring. The creature's back is a fairly large flat area, but this wood, surprisingly, has a lot of random, beautiful patches of black and amber that would add enough interest to allow smooth.

I ultimately decided to leave a tooled surface since the color and grain were strong enough to show through the texture. Also, the tooling helps convey that the piece was hand carved, or maybe I would just rather be carving than sanding.

Anyway, I kept running into random spots in the wood that would not carve cleanly no matter how sharp the tool was or from which direction I approached it with the gouge. As the gouge slipped through its channel, the wood would fold or wrinkle. These wrinkled areas would sand out, but I was not happy with having to leave smooth patches among the tooled areas.

Since oil smooths wrinkles on skin, I decided that because I intended to apply Danish oil and bee's wax as the final finish, why not experiment with applying oil to the wrinkled spots and see if softening/moisturizing effect would allow the gouge to carve cleanly. It worked!

I am doing this on a spot basis at the moment in case I need to use a rotary bit or flap wheel in a particularly tight area; the oiled wood clogs the bits something fierce.

The three pics show the wrinkles before oil, oiled and oiled and carved.

[Nomad]

That's a neat trick Dave. Did you try the 50:50 mix of alcohol/water?

[davidinsarasota]

Didn't try it Nom. What's the idea? Raises the grain so you can snip it off?

[Nomad]

It softens the wood so it's easier to carve. It might help those bad spots carve more cleanly. I dunno.

[Dan Wegiel]

Hi Dave,
Since I usually carve found wood that almost always has a bad spot here or there I apply danish oil and let it set for a day or two, IMO it actually hardens those spots(sets up) and make it easier to get good clean cuts.
Dan

[Buffalo Bif]

Excellent tip. Thanks.

[carver6]

I think a 50/50 alcohol/water mix is more to help soften a hard wood or make an end grain piece easier to carve. Don't know about firming up a soft spot but seems to me it would make the problem worse. Guess the best way is to experiment on some scrap pieces if you got 'em.
Garon

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by carver6

I think a 50/50 alcohol/water mix is more to help soften a hard wood or make an end grain piece easier to carve. Don't know about firming up a soft spot but seems to me it would make the problem worse. Guess the best way is to experiment on some scrap pieces if you got 'em.
Garon

I see what you are saying. Makes sense. Sounds like a little experimentation is in order.

[davidinsarasota]

I apply danish oil and let it set for a day or two, IMO it actually hardens those spots(sets up) and make it easier to get good clean cuts.

Good to know about letting it soak for a day. I'll soak the area real good at the end of each session, thanks Dan.