Bruce the Chef

By: Mitch Johnson

Wood like any others materials has come up in so many types. But we
need to know their characteristic so we know how to use them for the
wood carving. As each of the woods has different texture and color, we
will need some guidance on which woods that we have to use for our
purpose. In this article we will learn some tips of woods which we can
use.

Wild Cherry (40 lb.) Like other American fruit woods, wild cherry is a
very good carving wood. It needs slow seasoning and tends to split if
dried quickly. The sapwood is light and the heart-wood a reddish brown.
The texture is fine and even and it takes a smooth polish. It is used
also in cabinet work, frames and other decorative work.

Sweet Chestnut (42 lb.)
This wood can be mistaken for oak but it is about twenty-five per cent
lighter when seasoned. The silver grain present in oak is absent,
however. It is easy to work and has been widely used for timber work in
churches.

Ebony (63 lb.)
Ebony, not easily obtained, is black with a fine grain. The tools tend
to blunt because of the rather gritty nature of the wood. It will take
fine detail and a high polish.

Elm (36-37 lb.)
Elm, like ash, is a wood familiar in everyday life. We see it in
wheelbarrows, furniture and garden seats, and like ash it is tough and
strong and suitable for large wood carvings.

Douglas Fir (31 lb.)
This is a very strong wood and quite hard. It does, however, have a great tendency to check, split, shrink, and swell.

Holly (36 lb.)
This wood fine grained and heavy, is pure white in color. As the holly
is of shrub-like proportions, its wood can be used, like boxwood, only
for small objects and carvings, musical instruments, and inlay. Holly
is fairly easy to work and will take detail without breaking or
splitting.

Curly Jarrah (55 lb.)
This wood is rich red in color and is probably the most important tree
found in Western Australia. It can grow to as much as six feet in
diameter. Jarrah carves well and takes a very high natural polish. It
is extremely durable. The grain is straight but with a wavy or rippling
character.

Iroko
This is the West African carver’s favorite wood Exposure to air turns
the wood from straw color to red and the surface hardens. Finally,
however, it becomes hard all through and it is resistant to termites.

Kingwood (70 lb.)
This timber, not easily obtained, is found in Brazil and is similar to
Indian Rosewood. Sizes are small, the maximum being 18 inch in
diameter. The color of the wood is remarkable, almost violet with
narrow, regular black stripes interspersed with wide, lighter bands.
The grain is uniform and the wood will burnish to a fine natural polish.

Lignum Vitae (80-90 lb.)
This is one of the heaviest of all woods and is therefore widely used
for mallets and tools where weight and toughness is required. The
heartwood is dark greenish brown and the sapwood a contrasting yellow.
The fibres of the wood are interlocked and it is impossible to split,
though it can be carved with sharp tools.

lime (33 lb.)
This is a favorite wood for sculpture. It is firm and pleasant to
carve. The color is whitish to yellowish pink. Lime takes stain or
bleach readily, the latter turning the timber pure white. It is
moderately hard and takes a very good polish. Lime is also used for
drawing boards, hat blocks and cabinetwork.

Choose the wood according to their type. From this article we have
learned that each of the wood have their own characteristics and
typical. Before you start the wood carving, recognize the wood which
you have so you will know how to carve it in the proper way for a
better result.

About the Author:

Mitch Johnson is a regular writer for www.kitchen-plans-n-designs.com/ , www.interactivecollectables.info/ , www.goodbudgetholiday.info/

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