Basswood quality

[cwahart]

i have been buying basswood plaques from a local Crafts 2000 store. the blanks look nice however the wood seems rather stringy and tears easily no matter which direction i try to carve. should i find a new place to buy my wood or is basswood just this way? tools are sharp so i don't think that is the problem.

[hi ho sliver]

Go to a good wood supplier, you will get better wood and a better price, craft stores etc, you pay thru the nose!

[AlArchie]

Hi Ho's right about the wood......you take your chances buying from a craft store. You might try checking your local lumber company for some nice clear white pine. Not, that I'm recommending white pine as a substitute for good basswood, but are you SURE your tools are really sharp? If they are, they should work well on the pine. If not, you will know.

Short of mail order suppliers, which generally have very good wood, you might look around your area for a carvers' supply store; Woodcrafters, Rockler, or even a small local store, etc. as they are more likely to have quallity wood.

How new are you to the carving game? I ask only because a lot of beginners do not have a good concept of what a sharp tool is, and once the tools are really sharp, carving becomes a lot more enjoyable.

Al

[hi ho sliver]

Here is a good supplier for you and doesn't rip you off....his name is Don Wedll, tell him Dave Dunlap sent you.... http://woodsource.tripod.com/ another that I hear people rave about that I have not tried is Heineke wood products.....they have a site, but I can't think of it off hand..do a google search. good carving!

[Claude]

Try checking the Yellow Pages from the nearest good sized city - look under Hardwood or Lumber. If you tell us your general location, there may be someone on the forum who knows of a supplier in your area.

Claude

[firewoodstudio]

http://www.carvingwood.us/catalog/conditions.php%20%20%20%20check%20out%20this%20for%20Basswood.

[cwahart]

well that would be around Marietta, OH.

[pyrographer]

A day or two late........

craft stores quality is definately not the best. I've bought from both Don Wedll and Heinicke and I find that Heinecke has better basswood (clearer)than Don although he has better prices.

Nedra