White pine

Cedar, in Cedar chests keeps moths and bugs away for a reason. Plus it's very slow to breakdown and rot. Once the cedar dust is in your Lungs, it's there for much longer than you want it to be. I prefer white pine for more than just that reason, and so did the Old"Philadelphia School" carvers. Pattern grade white pine, is very good and contains very little pitch, but you get what you pay for. You also pay for not wearing a very good dust mask, and having proper ventilation no matter if your a power carver, or hand tool carver with any type of wood.
 
My personal experience is I carved two doves out of cedar and noticed I was sneezing and coughing more than I normally do. I don't recall having that reaction in the past. Plus I like the way pine smells.
Ken
 
Pete/Duane/Ken…

All you boys had to do was ask!

I've been turning it away for years but if there's a demand for it, I'd be happy to add it to the menu. I'm sure I can fit a cpl hundred feet of it for the trip to Strongsville.

What sizes would you like to see?

Shoot me an email.
Dwane O.
 
"It does need to be sealed a bit better as it has more pitch and sap in it, but still good stuff."

A few things to look at when buying white pine. The preferance is trees that were cut in the winter when there is less pitch in it. Wood that is kiln dried and the pitch has been set in it. I have never had an issue with white pine bleeding pitch and there is very little tannin in it, cedar on the other hand is another story. Avoid wood that has blue or brown staining. This is a fungus (mainly found in the sap wood)that has attacked the log after it was cut and it changes the cell structure of the wood. I have found that my knives drag through wood that has the staining in it rather then giving me a nice crisp clean cut.

Also the other thing is that there is plenty of it around if you look for it if your in the WP growing range. Cedar I have to go south or up north to get it.

Every wood has it's pro's and con's it's just finding what works best for you.
 
Dwane,
I would be looking for 2 1/2" ,3" or even 4" x 8 to 10" wide. As for not using cedar I am allergic to it. Also like Vince said about the old Philadelphia School using white pine the old Stratford School carvers used white pine also. I think back then they used whatever was local and they could get cheap.
Pete
 
Dwane,
I would like some 2 inch which can be glued up etc. also would like to see some wider to make a Swan
If planed on all four sides it can be glued up of course. I think you would sell some.
Thanks
Ken
 
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