Carving Wood
Once you have an idea of what type to carving you are interested in, you need to find some wood. Wood carving by name indicates that your medium is wood. Finding the best wood for your project is essential for success. Different woods have different attributes and characteristics. Some woods lend better to certain types of carving projects.
Factors to consider when choosing a carving wood:
- Density
- Grain Pattern
- Degree of Hardness
- Price
The density and hardness of the wood used for wood carving, factors into your carving in many ways. The harder the wood, the harder it will be to carve. It will also take more stropping to keep your tools sharp. Harder woods also present a challenge when it comes to carving details. The harder the wood, the more durable and long lasting the piece will be, but may also limit the amount of detail in your carving.
You will discover that the grain patterns will also play a role in selecting wood for different wood carving projects. Some pieces look better by being complimented with various degrees of grain pattern density. If the grain pattern is close and tight, it will look different after your project is completed and finished, than it will if you have a large, loose grain pattern.
The price of the wood factors into my decisions of what type of wood to use for various wood carving projects. The more expensive the material, the more precise and perfect I want to be in carving the piece. If I am just practicing, or trying something new, I will often use scrap wood or very inexpensive wood, so if it doesn't turn out as expected, it doesn't hurt as much to use it for heat in the winter.
My suggestion on choosing wood for wood carving projects, is to use best wood that you can find at a low cost to you. Use wood that is not too hard and dense and that you can find easily. If you don't live in an area that has a lot of wood, check with friends and relatives that do. You will be surprised how many times, if you ask land owners about small saplings, that they will let you cut a few down. If you have to spend a lot of money on wood to get started wood carving, it will only make it more frustrating to learn to carve, because you will be worried about making ever cut precise and exact. You will go through a lot of wood while learning the wood carving process.
I started out carving on some pieces of poplar and other small saplings that I cut from the woods on my property. It taught me a lot about how the wood will "check" or crack if not dried correctly. It also gave me the satisfaction that I was using wood that was free to me, while learning to carve. If I made a mistake or didn't like the way the carving turned out, I could use it in my fireplace during the winter.
Walnut Hollow Basswood Carving Blocks
