favorite wood and what to stay away from

[radrob]

I have been using fir. I like the grain the color,its soft. I have used most of the logs i have and am going to shop for some logs.
I am in the pacifin nw.
What is good to carve and what should i stay away from.
I found a good deal on a load of alder.
I havent tried cedar yet.
i am new to this
your opinions will be apriciated.
what do you like and why
rob

[Just Carving]

Basswood is good. Cedar can be tough--takes a little getting used to. Surprised at your carving work in fir--most people don't like it. Is it still green yet? Aspen is good. Buttternut is a dream if it's not to pithy. Walnut can be hard especially with carving knives as opposed to chisels and gouges. As they say, to each his own. Get a bit of each as you go along. You'll learn what works for you and what doesn't.

Bob L

[radrob]

the fir i have been using is on the green side. Dont know how it will be in the long run. What makes cedar difficult.
what should i stay away from.
mabey i could see some pics of the carvings in different types of wood.
not sure what to look for.
rob

[brianh]

I like white pine it seems to check the least of any of the woods I have carved it is the most abundant for me to get.

Catalpa is really nice the wood grain is beautiful and it carves really well.

Beech, I carved a bunch of trees at a bed and breakfast and really liked the way it holds detail.

I do not like northeastern hemlock between ring shake and checking, a nice carving can look terrible in a short time. I use it for woodspirit planter bases if I use it at all, the checking gives a kind of weathered accent.

I am sure there are a lot of good carving woods but these are what I have been useing so far.

[Thor]

White pine is my favorite for the chainsaw, and yellow pine is my least...will not carve it....
Cedar is a little bit more "splitty" than white pine, but I like it. It sure makes a pretty carving.
Thor

[dicktilley20]

what do you like and why??????

Well Rob....my favourite wood is free and delivered, preferably with the bark off!!!!

My favourite free delivered wood is Sequoia, Giant Red Wood, excellent for the chainsaw, good grain and colours, next is oak and sweetchestnut (butternut), long gevity and hand carving detail is a snip, or should I say chip? pine is fine, poplar aint popular with me, beech is good for interior stuff, splits outside and rots quick.

What ever timber you get Rob try it, nothing goes to waste if you have a wood burner.

Even rotten wood looks good sand blasted.

dickSmile

[Alice in Wonderland]

Rob I have used about every kind of wood with my little electric chainsaw, sure there is some wood easier to carve then others but it depends on what you want to do to, Here I have any kind of Oak,Birch, hard Maple. Poplar red and white Cedar white Pine green and old and more and I carved them all. so you see. I usually go from the chainsaw to the Arbortech procutter or percival down to the Dremels.
see photo
Alice

[Pete Rieger]

Rob, I would kill to be back in cedar country.Red cedar is the wood of choice for west coast chainsaw carvers, green wood will carve like butter Plus cedar will outlast anything else in the elements.Try anything you can get, though, thats the only way to find out what you like. I always look to history, The Natives carved red and yellow cedar, and alder ( masks and objects).Here I use spruce mostly, I love the white wood and it takes detail well, splits pretty bad sometimes though, which can be directed with a kerf in the back of the carving.

[radrob]

Well i bought a load of wood.Blue atlas cedar? I thought cedar was cedar.
Its not what i expected. Man is it heavy.
Havent tried it yet. Spent most of the day hauling it home.
Has anyone used it?
Rob

[tcb16]

Hi Rob,

I'm from the east coast, so I only know from what I've heard. Western Red Cedar tends to be top choice, Redwood is also highly sought after. Best of luck,

Tim