Thread: Fiddleback

I know this is an older thread, but no one else has replied, so I'll throw in about 2 cents worth...

Fiddleback grain will be harder to carve, but not impossible. As you are carving, you always need to be aware of the grain directions and worth with them as much as possible, and a really tight fiddle-back grain will make that more difficult. However, if your tools are kept razor sharp, this will make things much easier, and it shouldn't be a show-stopper. Blunt tools will certainly make everything more difficult. I don't know what cypress pine is like in general. Hoop pine is very common here, and it's not terrible.

How long have you let the wood dry out? You may find that it doesn't carve so well when it's green. You could try drying a piece in the oven or microwave, and see if this helps.