Besides Basswood?

E

edwdixon5

Joined
Mar 6, 2008
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24
Just getting into whittling and, while I intend to order some small quantities of basswood, I was wondering what other woods might be reasonably suitable (i.e., won't gum up or break the blade and will provide some level of enjoyment). I'm not in the States and basswood doesn't seem to be a common item here. If anyone's found another wood that they tried and liked, I'd appreciate hearing about it. Thanks.

Ed
 
I did a quick google search and it seems that lindenwood is similar. Might also want to do a search on limewood. See if there are some carving forums that may be able to help.

Ric
 
Basswood ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Linden ) is known as American Linden, and is a great carving wood. I've found butternut to be another stong choice, yet still easy to get a knife through. For an inexpensive alternative, try some fresh green wood you find on the curb after the neighbors toss out the yardwork. Even maple is carveable before it drys and hardens up. As far as "gumming up" the blade, stay away from sticky resiny woods like pitch pine and woods with sticky white latex such as staghorn sumac, and you should be okay.

When you get started, check out Bladeforums' own Whatcha Whittlin'? thread! There's some great folks here with great ideas and advice for cool carvings.

Try some "spike trolls" when you start off. They're easy and cute, and a nice way to learn the basics like stop cuts, notching, and SAFETY. These ones are painted, but they look nice without paint too.
PIC-3359.jpg






(and keep your bandaids and your shapening kit in easy reach! :) )
 
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I like birch. Its pretty easy to carve and and its easy to take slices off without making a split
 
I like White Pine. It carves great wet or dry, and edges last longer than with basswood.

In Australia - Huon Pine or King Billy Pine are great. Both grow in Tasmania (a place inhabited almost entirely by tasmaniacs!) I enjoyed the week I spent there.
 
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