Diamond Willow Question

[Shaysreb]

Do people carve faces in Diamond Willow? I don't think I've seen any with wood spirit faces, I thought about buying some but better see If It's possible first.


My stix :O)

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[Waitpinga Whittler]

It really depends on where, and how big, the 'diamonds' are in my experience. The wood itself is fine for that sort of work but the diamond holes have to be worked around which may or may not suit your ideas about a spirit face.

[Merle Rice]

If you go to my Gallery on Page #8 you can see my stick that I did for my Son-n-Law as a Christmas gift. The wood is great to carve and finishes beautiful. I like carving it. Merle

[Shaysreb]

Thanks guys, carve green or dry? I love the look of this wood, I'm in Florida so,,, I'll have to ship some in.

[Robson Valley]

Out-Of-Square Construction here in McBride. Canes & stricks, tables & queen-size beds, all diamond willow. He collects & peels when the sap runs, end of April/early May. Dried under cover for 6 years. Sands better than satin smooth.
I've seen enough of it in the past few years to tell me that the knots are so irregular and dirty, they might be really frustrating to carve.

[Waitpinga Whittler]

Originally Posted by Shaysreb

Thanks guys, carve green or dry? I love the look of this wood, I'm in Florida so,,, I'll have to ship some in.

If you're not in a hurry, dry is better. You run the risk of the wood splitting through your carving if you carve it green. There are ways around this but the easiest is to just carve it dry. If you are going to buy it anyway you can expect it to be properly cured before you get it.

[upcarver]

I carve wood spirits in D. Willow several times a year. No problem. Great wood for carving and I don't find the diamonds a problem. Fact, they can bring out the creativity in you. Have never carved it green, alway aged at least one year; more if it has a large diamiter. I don't paint the ends as some folk do. I gather it all summer long but even though it is plentiful, finding just the right diamiter, the right diamond configuration and having the shaft straight enough can be a challenge!

[flyfisher]

The diamond willow I have carves easily and takes a great finish-I use shellac/alcohol mix.
Carving the surface opposite the diamond allows using the inner dark wood to emphasize facial features.

[Shaysreb]

Thanks for all the info, now i jus have to lay my hands on some!! The swamp bay sticks i carve dry real fast and carve nicely wet. I can harvest the stick, carve a face in it and varrnish it before the weeks end. Cool wood!

[Robson Valley]

Wow! I spent a single beer's time at "Out-Of-Square" today. I got to see some finished queen-sized bed frames+headboards, etc. How I wish I had the money. Odd thing is, they're made of diamond willow, but it doesn't look the least bit rustic. Quite elegant.