Thread: Please advise me of 'easy going' and available wood for a beginner with the knife

Jelutong is the ducks nuts here in Aus but White Beech, Camphor Laurel, Merbau and Kauri Pine are all good.


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perhaps more important than what timber you use.

you might expect to need to sharpen the tools every 30 mins or so.

Hi, If you just want to get the feel for your knife and chisels just find some cheap pine to practice with, other may cringe at that but I found it ok to learn, as mentioned before Jelutong is known as a starter wood but I don't know where you'll get it in Vic, suggest you google and ring around.
If your enjoying carving which you probably will then advance to the better more expensive woods.

European lime (Tila vulgarus) is a soft yet dense & close grained wood, it carves crisply & can take very fine detail - It is perhaps the best carving wood in the world to actually work but a little bland in colour ,prone to insect infestation, too soft for furniture & can only be used indoors . Basswood is American lime (tila americanus) & is very similar indeed, being of the same botanical family . I understand these woods are expensive imports in Australia .

I certainly agree with the above post that Jelutung would be the next best choice for a novice carver whether you are using your gouges or knives. It is soft enough to carve for weeks without having to sharpen your tools on a stone, every 20 minutes or so , just to give the tools a strop is all that is required to maintain that all important razor edge.

The wood smith in Croyden sells jelutong and they also do sales via the internet. Think its CARBA-TEC - Woodworking Tools and Woodworking Machines or google it. Bit pricey but reliable


Iggy

The woodsmith

Damm I didn't write carba tech I put in the woodsmith address an it changed it.


Iggy

The Woodsmith

Fijian Mahogany (switenia macrocarpa) is also an excellent carving timber. PM for list of stock.

W

Mark


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Fryers: All good advice on wood selection, above.

"Edge Management" (aka sharpening) is a skill that you have to learn and practice.
It's in the background of wood carving, the part that nobody told you about.
There's a joy, a satisfaction, in making delicate cuts to peel off shavings which
are nearly transparent to leave a gleaming smooth surface on the wood.

There are several different selections of kit to get this done. They all work.
Primarily, you should pick one of them and learn to be competent.
Edge tools that 'fight back' are frustrating.

'Way back in this forum is a lengthy thread called Star's Sharpening Journey.
I hope that there's a point or two of value to you.

https://www.woodworkforums.com/155634...27s+Sharpening

Thank you all for your comments, information and advice, more than I hoped for.
I will follow on some wood on my next trip to Melb and will also look into sharpening gear and learning the art of getting and maintaining an edge on tools.

cheers,

Fryers

You're welcome Fryers. This is a very good mob with a ton of talent.
Don't hesitate to ask questions.
I'm the only carver in my village. Just a month ago, I actually met another
wood carver. Possibly 10 years?

Just one more suggestion. As a practice wood poplar is pretty good. I've been using green poplar boughs for my beginner whittling courses for about 8 years now. Hardly ever spits as it dries and cheap (free) if you know where to find it. Not that hard to find either as it is regarded as a noxious weed in most areas of southern Oz and people/councils don't mind you taking a bit now and then.

Thanks for the suggestion. I know that place just down the road