Thread: help for newbie

Balsa is a terrible wood to carve - way to soft and "squishy". The fibers will crush instead of being cut. One of the good carving woods where you are is jelutong for figure carving. For spoons or other cooking utensils, a deciduous wood would be best. Here in the US, that would be birch, maple, walnut, cherry or other fruitwood, poplar, etc. Oak is usually too porous, and conifers are often resinous or have pronounced hard/soft/hard/soft grain structure.

Jelutong | The Wood Database - Lumber Identification (Hardwood)

I also found this reference that might help you: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/forestry/...f-timber-trees

Claude

Welcome to the forum Alan.

Well I'm in the UK so wood alternatives are different but definitely not balsa !
you can get Obeche I believe that is soft & well behaved if a bit boring.
Mike

I found that Queensland White Beech and Camphor Laurel carve quite well. The colour in Camphor might interfere with your designs, so look for fairly plain pieces. You should find both species in your neck of the woods. Huon Pine and Lime or Bass wood are also good choices if you can find them. Lime from Europe Bass from US are the same tree. Most fruit wood, like pear and nut woods also carve well but can be a bit hard but take good detail. Kauri pine is also suitable if it is not too soft. The hardness can vary depending where it comes from.

Hi I agree with Blackforester on the woods to carve, white beech, huon pine and Camphor laurel are great woods to carve, I don't think you'll find any Jelutong around now unless your lucky and get some old stock, it's been banned in Australia
so I'm told by a few suppliers. Western red cedar is not bad to carve and English lime if you can find it. Good luck.

G'day Alan
and welcome to the forum, as a possible source for jelutong, check to see if you can locate any Pattern makers nearby, they use it a lot and may sell you some of their scraps and off-cuts
I have no problems getting Jelutong, and for special projects I go to a furniture making company and they order in what I want.
Regards
John

Hi Alan, I agree with the previous three comments. Although I haven't heard of jelutong being banned in Oz; maybe that's because there's still plenty around at the wood specialists. You may be able to get Qld Cheesewood, which is Aussie grown jelutong. Always good to support the local growers.

Also, give camphor laurel a go, sometimes the patterning in the wood works with your design ��.

Good luck, Peter

Hi thanks to all respondents.

I have managed to discover that my Brother-in-law has some Huon Pine and is going to send some to me. What and how much I get will be a surprise when the parcel arrives.

I agree about balsa but it is giving me some good experience - the "squishiness" is a problem - with a bit of sanding I can much reduce the effect.

Alan