File puptcrit/puptcrit.0812, message 483


Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:23:24 -0800 (PST)
From: Caro Stewart <taocila-AT-yahoo.com>
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: [Puptcrit] Linden, basswood...


Same conclusion as Ed, pinewood bonds quite strong with glue. It did not dent when dropped. Red cedar did... I did not have enough wood of one or=A0the other=A0when I carved my Arlechino shoes, so I glued two blocks together. Have closer a look=A0to the first photo of my Arlechino http://www.puppethub.com/profile/Magnolia=A0for it shows=A0the shoes made of those two types of wood. For the hands, I had Yellow cedar. Easy to carve, few splinters. 
True, red cedar is very pretty, light=A0and easy to carve, but is soft and it scratches in a second.
As for basswood, I was pleased with it. No splinters. Carves fast. 
Poplar is soft, the easiest to carve (for me) but the grains are so "straight", and therefore it takes less intricate carving. Makes little splinters.
Except basswood, all pieces of wood (pine, cedar, poplar) I picked up when walking on the beach or from Secondary School shop garbage container.
Poplar and basswood are different families! 
For transfering, I use carbon paper or draw directly on the wood.
Tools:=A0band saw, knives (mostly exacto), chisel=A0and sandpaper.
Most craft and art supplies stores carry basswood and balsa for carving, but it's so expensive!=A0I paid $10 for a 6 x 8 of basswood, that I had to cut in half=A0and glue the=A0halves=A0together to get a cube for the head :O)
=A0
Carolina

--- On Mon, 12/22/08, Mathieu René <creaturiste-AT-primus.ca> wrote:

From: Mathieu René <creaturiste-AT-primus.ca>
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Sculpting Pine Wood?
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Date: Monday, December 22, 2008, 7:20 AM

Thanks Brad, Caro, Hobey and Les for all the input!

Indeed, I do have a friend who could lend me his hand sander for a while, if 
he's got one.
He probably does. He's got more hand powertools than anyone I've ever
met.
Yet I keep forgetting that he is a possible help, even though he has offered 
plenty of times!
Trying a tool before buying one of the same type is a great move, in my 
book.

I have some Dremel carving bits, but they are for miniature details only, 
one is a ball, the other is a point.
I will use the sanding cylinders when I get some more.

I now use a metal saw for cutting finer cuts in wood.

My first choice of wood would indeed be Basswood. I've seen and examined 
amazing results from the czech republic, and from local artists. I love the 
finish, and how easy it is to cut and shape.
I tried to find some basswood in hardware stores, but last time I checked 
(2004), those I went to had nothing of the sort. Some store's employees 
didn't even know this type of wood, even though I named it three ways in 
English and one way in French! Big cities may be practical for a lot of 
things, but often, people and stores within big cities forget the basics! 
Most people here probably can't even light a proper campfire!

I know of one store in Montreal that is sure to carry basswood. I haven't 
gotten any so far, the prices were prohibitive. It's justified there, the 
quality of the wood is controlled and guaranteed (controlled humidity levels 
while drying). They have woods from all over the world, as well as 
specialized tools to make any sculptor dream awake.  They are specialized 
store for sculpture and fine woodworking. Now that I have a specific project 
in mind and not just some dabbling, I'll go get some of that basswood! And 
maybe, if they have one, a Japanese saw! Those cut like nothing else I've 
ever tried, faster and cleaner.








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