carving in maple

[supershingler]

im doing a last supper carve in maple and it seem to be really fuzzy.
first time i have carved maple.
i was wondering what other have to say if maple is going to be this way or maybe it is because i need a new carving bit. i have it on best for quality.
just looking for some input

i did a praying hands in cherry that came out great

thanks

kendall

[SawdustSteve]

I've done a lot of carving in maple and it normaly comes out really well. Typically, my carves have been in hard maple with fairly straight grain. Never curley or soft maples... although I think either could be okay for the right kind of carve.

Keep in mind, though, that there are approximately 125 different species of maple. Do you know what kind you were carving? ...not that I'm an expert, just asking.

Steve

[Amonaug]

How much moisture is in the board still will affect how much fuzziness you get.

[TerryT]

From my experience maple carves great, but generally speaking it is fuzzier than cherry or walnut. I have carves in walnut that need almost no sanding at all. With some maples I get little curly things that wrap around the cutting bit as well as more fuzz.

[supershingler]

i work for a lumber yard

we get our hardwood from missouri i believe about the branson area is where our distributer is from

i am quite sure it is supposed to be hard maple but it leaving more frizzies that when i carve in pine.

maybe it is soft maple after all

i just thought it would come out glass smooth being cut out of hard maple


kendall

[FiddlemakerMills]

I carve alot of maple.

The grain oriantation will determine the amount of fuzzies you have. Quarter sawn maple carves the best.

The other factors that effect it are;

1 distance between rings
2 thickness of the board.
3 moisture content
4 slab cut.

The more pulp wood exposed will leave more fuzzies.

I normally carve tiger maple, and quilted maple.

[Eagle Hollow]

I have found:
Moisture content should be 8% or less.
Northern grown maple has smaller, tighter annual growth rings and carves cleaner.
Clean, sharp bit carves cleanest (DUH)
The harder - the cleaner the cut.

Just some of my thoughts.

[supershingler]

Thanks All For The Input
I Learned Alot On My First Maple Carve
I Will Have To Put A Moisture Tester On My Christmas List
I Dont Think My Bit Is Dull As I Did A Carve In Cherry The Night Before This And It Came Out Nice.
I Guess Ill Just Have A Little More Sanding To Do.
Can We Move Christmas Back To January 25 So I Can Get All This Done Lol

Thanks All For The Input

Kendall

[supershingler]

just a little update

i got the dremel out and removed what frizzies i had and stained it in golden oak.

turned out might fine if i must say so

ill post pictures when im done finishing

kendall

[Kenny]

I carved some hickory today, it is heavy but carved very nicely, no fizzies very easy to clean up.

Kenny