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Thread: New to carving

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Tugun, Gold Coast
    Posts
    6

    Default New to carving

    Hi everyone, I'm a woman from Gold Coast, Qld relatively new to woodworking. My interest is carving for now. I would be interested to know of any courses that anyone may know of in South East Qld.

    Also I would like some advice on what timber to use for relief/chip carving and where best to source it. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

    Cheers

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    NSW Mid North Coast
    Posts
    16

    Default

    Hi Tauby
    I bought some chip carving knives from Wayne Barton in the US last year, but couldn't find any suitable timber here in Australia. Someone recently put me onto Jetulong (imported) and White Beech (Aussie) as being good for carving, so I picked up a couple of pieces of each at the Sydney WWW Show recently. I haven't tried them yet, but they feel light/soft. Not sure where you'd get them in your area, though.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Mornington Peninsula
    Posts
    2,741

    Default

    Merbau, whilst not the most exotic wood around, is easy to carve.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    McBride BC Canada
    Posts
    3,543

    Default

    I'm a retired wood science type with both a personal and professional interest in wood anatomy for some decades.
    I've been carving for less than 10 years, keep mostly to western red cedar for carving in the round.
    You can find examples of what I've done up in the Wood Carving Forum.

    You're looking for straight-grained, relatively soft wood, crack and knot free.
    Having said that, conifer wood splits easily, and holds little sharp, crisp detail.
    Consequently, Huon and Pinus radiata would do no better than practice.
    Chris Pye is a leader in the relief carving field. I agree with his recommendations
    of pear (Pyrus sp.), Jelutong, British Lime (like American Basswood), possibly mahogany.

    Can you find a cabinet/furniture shop to beg for off cuts? The experiences would do well before
    you pick some timber for purchase. "Carving-sharp" tools are an absolute must, given the "push-cuts."

    Relief Carving In Wood, A Practical Introduction
    Chris Pye 1998
    Guild of Master Craftsman Publications
    ISBN 1 86108 096 4

    And now I leave you.

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