Thread: whittling mdf???

don't know if it helps but basswood is known across here as lime (not the citrus) and linden in Europe.
Cheers,
Jim

thanks Jim, yes i found that out after much searching around a while back!...seems to be extremely common in the US but not here. unfortunately the only place here that stocks this as far as i'm aware is a specialist retailer out in the city along with some other woods i've seen mentioned ...jetulong??. I'm specifically after wondering how the MDF will go for doing some small palm sized projects so i can just pop down to my local Bu$%ings store and get it when needs rather than heading alll the way into the city. Thanks for letting me know though - it can make it hard to track stuff down if its called by different names in different places!

A great many were planted in Vic as they make a lovely street tree. They named a street after them in Berlin - Unter den Linden.
I'm not a carver but how about poplar? It probably is a weed tree in SA.
Cheers,
Jim

i dont know ....will have to look into it ...knowing my luck i probably pass them everyday somewhere and dont know!!

Hi Woodmamma,

I've tried to answer your message but I don't know if it went or not, so I'll try here. Poplar or willow will work very well for what you want to do. I've been using poplar for all my beginner whittling classes for 5 years now. Failing that, jelutong, lime, huon pine, king billie pine would be my choice. I have off cuts of these that I'm happy to give you if we can figure out a way of getting them to you. Can you call me on 8552 8822 and we can discuss....

Hi Ruth
When I lived in Willunga, I used to go out in the state forests and pock up some cut off branches of Radiata pine, just for whittling away with my pocket knife when we went away in the caravan, never did own proper carving tools.
Made a couple of nice walking sticks then.
Cheers
Wolffie

Hi WM
Just be careful if you do use mdf, carving might be ok but if you are sanding its a known carcinogen.

thanks Wolffie and Claw Hama...yes MDF certainly wasnt/isnt my first choice at all - i've heard lots of stories about the dust and nasties it has in it, but i guess i was just curious to see if anyone had used it or could suggest its use for whittling since i've seen a few projects done on other pages where its been carved and can come up a treat because of the fact that it hasnt got knots/grain etc to worry about. I certainly take Whittling's advice on how it will come up fluffy because of the chopped up wood fibres and glue. I've tried store bought radiata pine and that hasnt worked well for trying to carve out a small horse i'm trying to work on...grain goes everyhwere with it. I will keep looking around for a willow tree which looks in need of a prune somewhere and maybe try the specialist store here too to see if they've got some of the recommended woods in stock.

Try cabinetmakers and raid their scrap bins.
There are still some in Adelaide who work in other materials than weetbix
Cheers
Wolffie

MDF is certainly carvable , and while you dont sand it , there's no health danger involved. End of good news - this stuf is a nightmare to use , it dulls your tools in seconds , and I would start a carving on ironwood before even consider the MDF . Been there , done that - never again

thanks Artesano, i didnt know that,, i thought it would be a bit more forgiving than that. Goes to show it helps to ask