Best Type of wood for Carving

[musicman]

Hi everyone

I am new to this carving thing, what is the best wood to carve with?

I have used pine but it doesn't seem to have the quality I would like, I also used Oak for the Last Supper wasn't much different.
Any suggestions. HELP!!!!!!
Thanks
Musicman

[Amonaug]

http://forum.carvewright.com/showthread.php?t=6478&highlight=best+wood

[brady.schwyhart]

Musicman,
It really depends on the project that your doing that would determine the wood you use. I work mostly with whiteboard pine myself, but switch it up for some projects. I have used oak and aspen and have like the results for the projects I used them for. I've even used select pine depending on what I was doing. IMHO the best advice is for you to just experiment and see what you like best. It can get costly, with the price of lumber going up, but once you hit your groove with your preferred medium, you'll love it.
Brady

[MAX COX]

I Have Used A Lot Of Red Oak With Pretty Good Success. Also I Have Used Pine, Poplar , And White Oak Along With Cherry. My Personal Preference Is White Oak And Cherry.

[Kenm810]

Don't forget Hard Maple, Really nice details and fewer fuzzies.
Check with your local lumber yards, the one nearest me has tons of cut offs 1 x 6s, 1 x 8s, 10" and 12"
all 2,3,4 foot long that no one wants so they sell them for 50% to 75% off per ft.
Red and White Oak, Maple, Poplar, Aspin, Pine, and several others.
I can't resist grabbing a few every time I stop there. http://forum.carvewright.com/images/icons/icon11.gif

[musicman]

Thanks for the info. I'll try them

musicman

[deemon328]

I'm not in the mood to read the old thread.

I really like closed grain woods in general. My favorites are:

Cherry
Maple

I'm looking forward to trying some super dense exotics like jatoba and purpleheart. I imagine they will carve super-clean.

[mark1945]

Jatoba carves very nice.I was able to pick up about 150 bf.for a very good price.I've made several clocks and plaques with it.

[TurtleCove]

The most often ordered woods from me, for carving, seems to be Red and White Oak, Maple, and Ash. All carve nicely. Since Elm is hard to find, you don't see much experience with it for carving, but I think it makes stunning carvings, due to it's "feathered" grain pattern...especially Grey Elm. And then there's Bloodwood and Purpleheart for the exotics which can yield carvings like glass (glossy and smooth), but due to their density, need to be carved with shallow strokes.

-dirk
www.thinboards.com
(lowest price on the web for thinboards...guaranteed)g

[TerryT]

I'm not in the mood to read the old thread.

I really like closed grain woods in general. My favorites are:

Cherry
Maple

I'm looking forward to trying some super dense exotics like jatoba and purpleheart. I imagine they will carve super-clean.


Purple heart carves beautifully. I've made several projects with it.

[MikeMcCoy]

Rosewood is my favorite but you can't get it at Wally World prices.

[Eagle Hollow]

Ipe, also sometimes called Brazilian Walnut carves smoother than any of the other species I've carved. That includes red & white oak, walnut, cherry, soft and hard maple, pine and poplar.

If the moisture content is below about 8% they all carve well.

[cnsranch]

I think Jerry hit the most important point - moisture content.

I don't measure it, but I have some Walnut that was rough-sawn off my In-Law's farm over 40 years ago - it carves like a dream.

I also got some 3/4" t&g ash paneling from my son that was hung in 1979 - it is great, also.

The dryer, the less inclined for the "fuzzies" to hang on to the project.

Ask someone who has tried to carve pressure treated pine :-D

[Audie]

The most often ordered woods from me, for carving, seems to be Red and White Oak, Maple, and Ash. All carve nicely. Since Elm is hard to find, you don't see much experience with it for carving, but I think it makes stunning carvings, due to it's "feathered" grain pattern...especially Grey Elm. And then there's Bloodwood and Purpleheart for the exotics which can yield carvings like glass (glossy and smooth), but due to their density, need to be carved with shallow strokes.

-dirk
www.thinboards.com
(lowest price on the web for thinboards...guaranteed)g

Has anyone bought wood from Tutlecove? I am really curious because I have tried for almost three weeks without success. :confused: Thanks

[mtylerfl]

You might try PM-ing Turtlecove (Dirk) to see what's up.

[Audie]

You might try PM-ing Turtlecove (Dirk) to see what's up.

I've tried that too Michael...no response :(
I was so excited to find the possibility of nice wood at a good price and "poof", vanished. Dang it all!

[mtylerfl]

Attention - Dirk - Turtlecove...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
You have some folks here that want to buy wood from you...

What is a reliable method to contact you for wood purchases?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[Jvicaretti]

I would be willing to sell some. I actually have alot, it is not planed but I could plane it before I sold it. Not sure what a fair price is though. If anyone is interested let me know and I will figure it out.

[DocWheeler]

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[castingman]

Doc,

Nice site, thanks for the link !

Michael