[santagibbs]

I am really in a pickle! I have started my roughout and the arm on the left side did not have enough wood to make an arm that was big enough..Now I have to decide what to do or loose my thirty six dollar roughout.. I have carved the face and a good bit on it but now am stumped.. I had an idea to use a piece of cottonwood bark and make a tree to peg on that side but the queston is, Would it be o.kl to use the two woods together? The Santa is basswood.. It would be painted so I don't think you would know the difference but what is worring me is that the tree has a couple of points at the top and sense cottonwood bark is so soft would it be eaisly broken and is there something you could put on cottonwood to toughen it up?
Then the next worry is.. will cottonwood peg into basswood well and hold with wood glue and not crumble? This is a long question but I sure would appreciate some of your expert advice on this as my Santa is just sitting there for now.. I want to be able to send it to a Gallery , so I really want it to be stable.. Thanks so much , Charlotte

[AlArchie]

Charlotte, I wouldn't use cottonwood bark, unless it's absolutely your last resort. Can you find a piece of basswood around somewhere? Maybe even buy a board at the local lumber co. If that isn't possible let me know and I'll send you a piece.....just et me know the size.

If you are bound and determined to use the cottonwood bark, you can really harden it up after getting it carved and before drilling, by applying a solid soaking of Minwax Wood Hardener. That stuff is GOOD for hardening soft and punky wood......stinks like heck so use it in a well ventilated area, or be prepared for a "happy feeling" for a few hours! Don't tell the kids.

Al

[Kenny_S]

I agree with Al. It can be used but it is easily to chip out layers of bark. If u use the bark, super glue it after carving. It hardens the bark also. A HI HO tip.

[santagibbs]

Thanks Al, good sense was trying to tell me that would happen...I do have lots of scrap basswood that I picked up from Curtis shop.
I guess I can use the tree I made as a model and and try to get the back flat to fit the arm as I have tried to sand it flat, but afraid it isn't that flat. I was just trying to weasel out of work. No such thing! Thanks for the offer though and the good advice and I won't tell the kids..lol

Ken, How do you mean? Just put the Super glue on the back ? Just call me really dumb? Charlotte

[artolver]

Charlotte,
I would say use basswood if you have it. Also if you got a bad rough out you should send it back and ask for a better one, or ask for your money back. If I Knew how to start a new thread, I would like to defend my Cottonwood Bark from those good ol' boys.
Art

[Kenny_S]

Art, there is no need to defend "your Bark". I like cotton wood bark and have several pickup loads of itand do a lot of Bark carvings, It does chip layers if you do not watch how you cut it. Now For Mrs. Gibbs.
Mrs.Gibbs, I squeese out a lot of it and let it spread all over the piece front, backand sides. Easily panted after it dries and is harder than it was before. ALA had a good suggestion but never using it I could not say that would be the best. It still might be but I have used Hi Ho's siggestion a lot on Bark and other woods and it works great..

[santagibbs]

Art, you don't have to defend your bark as I love it and have ordered it from you before.. It's so easy to carve and sand.. I used it alone but not with the basswood so I can see how the difference in the two woods could be not as good.. I have now carved ( almost through) a new tree from basswood and will use my cottonwood bark for other things..I can use my little tree by itself on something else.

Kenny, I thought that might be what you meant, but was afraid I would get all super glued up with the tree..lo and stick the tree to me and the table! I thought there might be something that would harden wood and Al's suggestion would be great and you could use it outside with good ventilation. If I can find it a Wal Mart's..!!!

Thanks to everyone and I am good to go now.. Charlotte

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

sanding sealer seems to toughten the wood as well!

[artolver]

Charlotte,
It was the part that Al said he wouldn't use Cottonwood bark unless it was the very last thing.
I would recommend bass on bass just to keep the glue from getting confused...hehe
anyhow I put a lovely piece of bark next to a piece of bass wood the bark said "ee-ew"...
I'm glad you like my bark, thank you
Art

[santagibbs]

Art, it would be so neat if all wood was as easy to carve as Cottonwood.. ! Charlotte