Tagua nut carvings

[mateo]

Thanks Gene, I appreciate that.
Matt

[CarverFromNoWhere]

Hey matt where do ya buy your tagua nuts?
Carl

[Ron T]

Keoma and Carl, TreelineUSA: The Woodcraft Specialists has them.

[Keoma]

Thanx Ron-I am carving some Walnuts right now. They are turning out really cool and they are free I really love all the critters you can make Matt!

[againstthegrain]

Ron T,

You have given Keoma WAY too many choices...standard nuts, JUMBO nuts, or sliced nuts....

Never give a woman too many choices because we will want them all!!!!

[mateo]

Thanks Keoma, I brought my... uhhrm... nuts back from Peru. I walked through customs with a 20 pound bag of tagua over my shoulder, like I was Santa. It could have been plutonium for all the custom agents knew. It looks like Ron may have found a site to buy from. I would suggest googling "tagua nut." every other site will try to sell them to you, plus you can learn a little about the material.
Matt

[CarverFromNoWhere]

I seen lee valley sells them and also craft supplies usa has sold them, not sure if they still do but they had really really big ones sold for turning stock.
Carl

[Christine]

Matt,
Do you ever soak the nuts in water before carving, to soften them?

[mateo]

I think it makes them more prone to crack later on, also it doesn't make them noticably softer.
I am fortunate to be in peru were I can harvest mine slightly immature when they are transparent and softer. Its like carving a ball of hard wax. Then in a couple of days the carvings become harder and take on the Ivory color.
Anyway,I know that doesn't help you much, good luck and let us see what you create. sharp tools are the formula for success.
Matt