Thread: Carving Mahoganys

Originally Posted by David N

Can I have comments on these timbers to carve, African Mahogany, Fijian Mahogany, Utile and Obeche. I've carved lots of Brazillian Mahogany but have a project to do that could be made out of the 4 timbers mentioned. I'd like to know the ease, strength and looks of these timbers please.

African Mahogany(Khaya) carves like butter and looks stunning too..not sure about the others though..MM

Please post the proper (and universally understood) Latin names for these woods.
I cannot begin to think of possible suggestions until I know that Outhouse and Dunny
are the same seat woods.

Can help with one. Fijian mahogany is a true mahogany - swietenia macrophylla

I lived in the NT for a bunch of years and this was virtually the only wood I had to carve. It is hard as a rock. In fact a carving friend told me he would rather carve rock because it is easier. But it is a gorgeous looking wood, beautiful red colour and amazing grain. I have a huge turtle carved from a cross cut piece of it and it is beautiful. I am a power carver, I rough with a chain saw, then refine with an angle grinder and finish with a Foredom. If you are doing conventional carving, you better have your strop ready cuz you will probably have to do a lot of sharpening!

Originally Posted by rooeytoo

I lived in the NT for a bunch of years and this was virtually the only wood I had to carve. It is hard as a rock. In fact a carving friend told me he would rather carve rock because it is easier. But it is a gorgeous looking wood, beautiful red colour and amazing grain. I have a huge turtle carved from a cross cut piece of it and it is beautiful. I am a power carver, I rough with a chain saw, then refine with an angle grinder and finish with a Foredom. If you are doing conventional carving, you better have your strop ready cuz you will probably have to do a lot of sharpening!

I have some inland rosewood still sitting on the bench after 2 years as I'm too scared to damage tools, so thanks for the tips. What type of chain profile are you using on the chainsaw? Are you using tungsten grit disks, as in saburr, on the grinder? or just plain sanding discs? Inland Rosewood