Best wood to use

[FINGERS]

I use basswood it carves nice soft wood bits will last for ever, a lot of saw dust you need a good shop vac i had a 2 gal. vac. after two carving it was full so went to wally-world and got the big boy 16 gal. 5.5 hp it really suck's.
have fun

[rjp736]

I've tried many different woods and find Cherry to carve the best.

[HandTurnedMaple]

I definately agree with Cherry. I will also use Hard Maple to add a lighter color to my gallery.

[Old Salt]

your best woods are closed grain type . red oak is a open grain while white oak is closed. Cut a very thin piece off the end of a block of red oak hold it up to a light . try it with white oak and you will see the difference. take a piece of red oak 1/4 x1/4 x6 put the end in a glass of water ,you can blow through it like a stray. the open grain woods have voild that will tear when cut and give you a ruff finish.. I have had good luck with cherry,purplehart, maple hickory. and even some walnut . fine grain and clossed grain is what to look for . many things will make a wood carve better , less than 10% moisture 1/4 sawn ect. carve the same pattern in each type you like save for future to see the change in types . have fun

[jdrof]

Has anyone tried to carve ebony? I have some 3/4" stock and would like to carve some rosettes for a mirror frame I am making, but I am afraid it will eat my bit.

Also, I was going to try and carve a clock face that I downloaded but the numbers were done in centerline text and my software does not support that. Will it carve?

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

[pkunk]

Has anyone tried to carve ebony? I have some 3/4" stock and would like to carve some rosettes for a mirror frame I am making, but I am afraid it will eat my bit.

Also, I was going to try and carve a clock face that I downloaded but the numbers were done in centerline text and my software does not support that. Will it carve?

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

I've never tried ebony but it would carve nicely. Don't worry about the bit. They are endmills designed for cutting metal. My clock face will carve on your machine with total disregard to the fact you don't have centerline. You can add extra carving in the center area if you wish.

[jdrof]

pkunk---

Thank you very much. I"ll give them both a try.

You now have got me thinking (sometimes dangerous) when you said the bit was designed to cut steel. Is it possible to carve shallow images on sheet aluminum if it is placed on a solid surface or a sled?

[pkunk]

pkunk---

Thank you very much. I"ll give them both a try.

You now have got me thinking (sometimes dangerous) when you said the bit was designed to cut steel. Is it possible to carve shallow images on sheet aluminum if it is placed on a solid surface or a sled?

There's been a number of posts on this subject. Use 'search'. In a word-no.

[Gman_Ind]

I thought I read before that a dark wood can fool a sensor into malfunctioning? the first real project I want to do is some carved pulls in highly figured black (purple) walnut.
Of course I will do a complete test on scrap wood, I wonder if a walnut stain also might fool the sensor?

[pkunk]

I thought I read before that a dark wood can fool a sensor into malfunctioning? the first real project I want to do is some carved pulls in highly figured black (purple) walnut.
Of course I will do a complete test on scrap wood, I wonder if a walnut stain also might fool the sensor?

If the sensor doesn't read it correctly, try a piece of masking tape flush on each end. Walnut carves sooo nicely!