I have never carved anything except a point on a stick. That said, I want to try my hand at carving some decoys for my boy to use. That said, I want to start with a local wood that would be fairly easy to work with and readily available. I dont want to spend a lot of money on wood that I know will be the recipient of a huge amount of learning mistakes. I live in southwest Georgia. Would it be worth going to one of the big box stores and get some “whitewood” and gle some together to make some blocks? Any advice would be appreciated.
Wood for a newbie
- Thread starter Wxton
- Start date
probably your best bet would be to go to a local lumber yard and ask. In Kansas I could get real nice surfaced 2 inch basswood. I was real nice for carving. Here in Idaho woodcraft is about all we have for carving wood and they charge a lot. I don't know what kind of wood you have available there, sugar pine is one of my favorites, some carve cottonwood and white cedar. I've carved a lot of clear white pine, it's about the only thing that's affordable here. I made this bufflehead out of one inch white pine from home depot, glued together with waterproof gorilla glue ultimate. I've hunted it several years. It's hollowed all the way into the head up to the bill.
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jode hillman
Well-known member
You should probably be able to find 5/4 white pine at most of your big box stores. You can glue those together get the appropriate thickness.
Bob Reitmeyer
Active member
Congratulations on starting your journey! I'm teaching one of my daughters to carve a bit now and she also had little experience. Be patient, learn the fundamentals and don't be discouraged by setbacks.
Regarding carving wood - I learned to make decoy bodies with three pieces plus the head. Each extra piece is an extra glue line to carve thru. Not a big deal for a slick, but something to consider if you intend to add relief carving.
Regarding carving wood - I learned to make decoy bodies with three pieces plus the head. Each extra piece is an extra glue line to carve thru. Not a big deal for a slick, but something to consider if you intend to add relief carving.
Ronald Bock
Member
I am able to get end cut offs (6×6) from a local sawmill. If you can find 6x6 with tight grain and very few knots your golden. I cut the chunks to lentgh then rip them lentgwise to 2 1/4" thickness. I hollow out the two halves and laminate them together. Any additional 2 1/4" material is used for making heads. You kind of see it in the lamiated block and if you look at the bird in the vise you can see where it goes together.
If there is a sawmill in your area try and get end cut offs particularly bigger beams. 6x6 and 6x8 are my favorites. May be a more inexpensive alternative.
If there is a sawmill in your area try and get end cut offs particularly bigger beams. 6x6 and 6x8 are my favorites. May be a more inexpensive alternative.
Ronald Bock
Member
Right now I have 3 years worth drying. If I make 36 birds per year. I'll be getting another pickup full Monday. Yes. I'm in carving heaven.
I just went to woodcraft this morning looking for a suitable 2" basswood board.........nothing. They are slanted toward the wood turners. I got a decent pine board at home depot and it will just have to do. I hate, hate, hate ordering wood online, you never know what you are going to get. The worst piece of wood I've ever bought was a piece of tupelo, it was as hard as a rock and I still have two quail roughed out that I just can't bring myself to finish. I can do a lot of things with pine, so pine it is.
HenryHawthorne
Member
I highly recommend woodbarter.com - a fantastic group of talented woodworker and a great source for small-lot woods. Like this, it's a really good forum that is heavy on folks sharing and light on politics and argument - though there is a good bit of light-hearted ribbing. Join and get a feel for it, then ask for what you're seeking and there is a high likelihood someone will have it.
thanks for the info, I took a look at the forum, looks like a good opportunity to pick up some decent basswood. We had a great wood carving shop here in town 30 years ago, I got to teach classes and took wood in trade for the classes. You never know how good you have it till it's gone.