Thread: Basswood

Jelutong is what you need. Probably better than basswood (very uneven quality). It's more an issue of what's readily available. I can't buy jelutong very easily in my part of the world and if I could, I doubt that I could afford it.

I carve western red cedar because it is local, abundant and free. It is soft, splits very easily while carving and drives most carvers crazy. So that suits me fine..

You can carve any wood with a knife. The harder the wood, the slower you go and the finer the shavings you must make. Gotta be "carving-sharp", no kitchen nonsense.

There is a chap at woodford, just outside Caboolture who stocks Jelutong. I purchased two pieces of Jelutong from him about two weeks ago.


It just happens that he has a sale on this week end , Sat 14 and Sun 15 July.
Contct details: Alan Handley
24 Coronation drive
Woodford, QLD
07-54963033
I checked with Alan first for the OK to supply his details on the forum

Hope this helps

Regards
Terry

"Basswood
<HR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f0e9d0; COLOR: #f0e9d0" SIZE=1>Hi there I would like to do some knife carving and the only timber I know of that it can be done on is Basswood. Basswood isn't stocked in Qld and none of the suppliers even knew about it's existence. They say that Jellatung will suit knife carving but I'm skeptical on their answer because I don't think they know the difference between knives and chisels.

Also do you know anyone other than the major suppliers who is selling Jellatung. "

An alternative suggestion is to try Paulownia. It is light in weight and color, straight grained and soft like WRC. There is a supplier at Burleigh Heads and his details or on his web site paulowniatimbersales.com.au His name is Geoff.

Whitewood

There should be plenty of camphor out your way which is a little hard for a carving knife, but try some green and you may be well surprised - steer clear of heartwood perhaps and go for the pale timber just beneath the sap wood. You may also come across some white beech if you sniff around a bit, if coming through Nimbin ever I should be able to supply you with some.

Hi there, I have been Chip Carving now for about 9 years (I think that is what you mean by knife carving) and I use nothing other than Huon Pine, which without doubt I beleive is the best wood for this craft in Australia. Basswood can be bought from the US but is a very bland wood to look in appearance. Huon can be bought at very reasonable prices from aguy called Trevor Gaskell of TG creations in Northgate here in Brisbane, he has plenty of stock. goog luck with your endeavors. Brian.

Sorry about that I forgot Trevors phone No's 07 33146816 or 0403 496 403.cheers.

Thank you all for your wonderful inputs and suggestions. I mentioned knife carving and basswood due to a US video tutorial I watched. He sliced through the timber like butter, I bought the knife from CT but I haven't been able to find the right sort of timber for it. I tried with ceder and it didn't work, I doubt very much that it would work on huon pine but as one member mentioned it works great for chip carving.which is something I will do a little later on. I also bought some camphor from our local wood turning association not for carving though but that didn't turn out so great as I ripped it and starting planing it I found far too many splits and knots.
As I make clocks I need clean timber and I just couldn't use that camphor. I was fortunate enough to buy a few meters of Huon pine raw for $8 per metre which I thought was cheap frrom Paradise timbers. I'm experimenting with new designs so that why I would like to do some carving.

I will give those people a call especially the one in Burleigh as he is local. Anymore suggestions are welcomed and suppliers. Lazarities have all the stuff I would like but they are expensive and I'm not getting the cash flow to be able to afford them.

Chip carving, Flat-Plane, Holiday, Caricature, relief, whittling. Bunch of quite distinct styles. I wish I had more examples of each in my collection. But, here in the north-north, all of it looks like basswood to me.
Nice to read what you recommend for Aussie woods. All is not lost by a long shot.

Jelutong is what I call 'Australian Basswood'. The two aren't really all that much alike but 'Jelly' is a good knife carvng wood if you aren't looking for really fine detail. I think basswood and english lime (esentially the same thing) hold detail a bit better, but they are very expensive to buy. Jelly will be much more afordable.

I know that there are some on here that don't like them, but I have found poplar and willow to be a very reasonable substitute as well. Again, don't expect really fine detail, but for your 'average' sort of knife work they aren't bad.

I've attached a few examples to show you what I mean...

The following two characters have been carved in willow. (heads only, not the shafts)


These two guys are poplar


These two are both english lime but as you see, there is a fair scope in the colour between different sources.


Finally, these last ones are Jelutong


Sorry for all the photos but I though it worth illustrating the potential of woods like poplar and willow and their relative carving worthiness, especially in a blade-carved context.

One of the best things about poplar and willow though, is their availability. Although they are not native, they both grow widely in Australia and with a little looking around can usually be found fairly easily. Most owners don't mind you cutting a branch or two if you explain what you want it for.

I made a mistake it is called chip carving and the video I was refering to is called chip carving with wayne barton.

This is type of work I would like to implement in my clocks

Originally Posted by section1

I made a mistake it is called chip carving and the video I was refering to is called chip carving with wayne barton.

This is type of work I would like to implement in my clocks

In that case forget everything I said!

Seriously though, just about anything can be chip carved if your surface is clean the flat and your tools are sharp. Good luck!

OK. Suppose "section1" makes the parts for a clock case, jelutong, lime, Huon, etc. . . whatever.
1. The carving design(s)
2. The tools
3. The sharpening and honing = the carving-sharp edges may last 30 minutes.
4. Barton has been doing this since Adam was a boy. The physical depth and complexity of the carved design is impressive, especially in basswood. I would have imagined that cherry or oak would have been better.

I'm no hello of a wood carver, everybody knows that. I sure do have a good time. I do know that I can't make the Olympic time when I dive into a pool. I do know that I can't buy clubs that give me par golf. I can't buy a shotgun or a pistol that puts me on the Olympic squads.

Anything as complex as Barton's work is a tall order for a starting point.
section1, far be it for me to put you off. Wood carving didn't turn out to be (for me) anywhere near as simple as others made it look. If it looks straight forward and simple - it isn't.

What I understood is what's written you said Jelutong is good for carving but not for fine detail, same with poplar btw they sell poplar in Masters which I have tried and it isn't what I'm looking for. You also said that basswood and English lime is only a bit better but having watched his videos and I posted that sample pic is what he achieved with basswood and that's the type of fine detail I'm after. I've never held basswood to know but it must slice through like balsa and be sturdy enough for him to make boxes and initially that's what a clock is. A box but decorated.

Originally Posted by Robson Valley

OK.

Wood carving didn't turn out to be (for me) anywhere near as simple as others made it look. If it looks straight forward and simple - it isn't.

I agree with you it's not simple but with persitence, patience etc it can and will be done.