Figure 1-1. Basswood.
The American basswood tree grows in fair abundance from the southern U.S. to a hundred miles or so north of the Canadian/U.S. border, from about the central states through to the East Coast. Generally speaking, the best “carving basswood” grows in the latitude area of southern Michigan (including southern Ontario) south to Kentucky and in the longitude area from Iowa east to the coast. Basswood growing north of this region tends to grow too slowly and is harder to carve. Similarly, in the areas south of Kentucky, it grows too quickly and is not as firm. Poplar and aspen are often used in western North America as substitutes for basswood.
Butternut (hardwood)
The butternut tree, also known as white walnut, grows in a geographical area similar to that of basswood. It is approximately 20% heavier in weight than basswood and carves easily with few surprises. Butternut has both a darker color and a more dominant grain pattern than basswood (See Figure 1-2.). Carvers use these characteristics to their benefit when the project will be left with a clear or light stain finish.
Figure 1-2. Butternut.
Mahogany (hardwood)
Mahogany (See Figure 1-3.) can certainly be chip carved should the occasion arise. While it isn’t the most desirable wood to carve, a woodworker will find mahogany pleasant to work with and suitable for a number of projects. It may be that mahogany is chosen to match other pieces of furniture within a room. It is heavier than butternut and therefore is harder to chip carve, but it is workable. Keep the patterns simple.
Figure 1-3. Mahogany.
Avoid intricate or delicate patterns as well as sharp ridges or edges. Intricate patterns will not show up very well in mahogany, and sharp ridges or edges tend to break easily in this wood. Lettering shows up well on mahogany that has been stained.
Pine (softwood)
You will often find carvers using pine for small caricature or figure carvings. Pine’s abundance and low cost, rather than its carving characteristics, are the reasons that many carvers choose this wood.
While pine can certainly be chip carved, it would not be my first choice for a couple of reasons. First, pine’s consistency, or perhaps I should say “lack of consistency,” of grain restricts the amount of fine or detail work that can be carved (See Figure 1-4.). Because the grain is not very tight, motifs that have sharp edges or ridges must be avoided to prevent breakouts (a ridge that breaks because it lacks rigidity) or fuzziness (See Figure 1-5.).
Figure 1-4. Pine.
Figure 1-5. Sharp edges, in designs such as this one, can break easily in some woods.
Second, the darker grain in pine is much harder than the light-colored grain. You may not notice this characteristic when cutting pine using power tools or a hand saw, but if you draw a chip carving knife across the grain of a pine board, you will soon discover that it is very difficult to control your cuts.
This is not to say that you should avoid chip carving pine altogether. On the contrary, if you already own or are presented with pine items, such as a blanket chest, a toy box, or a set of shelves, you can certainly beautify these functional pieces with chip carving. Simply avoid sharp edges. A pine chest can soon become a cherished heirloom once you add a chip-carved name or a simple motif. If you have a choice, however, have the project made from basswood because it is much nicer to carve.
Other Woods
I guess you could chip carve just about any species of wood, but that does not mean you should. Obviously, the harder the wood is, the more difficult it will be to chip carve. Always ask yourself if the end result will really be worth the effort required.
If you have the task of chip carving a project to match another item, consider using basswood or butternut and then staining your project to match that item. It may surprise you how much butternut can be made to look like oak, walnut, pecan, and other woods once it is appropriately stained. Basswood can strikingly resemble maple, pine, or even cherry (See Figure 1-6 to Figure 1-9.).
Figure 1-6. A basswood playing card box stained with Golden Oak. The box was made and carved by Jim Lindgren of Red Deer, Alberta.
Figure 1-7. This section is from a box lid carved in basswood. The lid was stained first with Mahogany and then with a coat of Cherry.
Figure 1-8. A section of a box lid carved in butternut and stained with Pecan.
Figure 1-9. These flowers are part of a small, decorative plaque carved in basswood and stained with Mahogany. The plaque was chip carved freehand and stained by Todd Moor.
Chip Tip
When choosing the wood or item you wish to chip carve, make sure you consider the predominance of the grain. The more predominant the grain, the simpler your pattern should be. An intricate or busy pattern will compete with a heavily grained wood for attention, creating unpleasant results in both the appearance and the execution of the chips themselves.
WOOD SOURCES
It is unlikely that you will find either basswood or butternut at your local home improvement center. Your local specialty lumber retailer will most likely have both species in stock. For those lucky enough to live in the geographic areas where basswood and butternut grow, a visit to a small lumber mill will provide all you need at reasonable prices. If you are still having problems finding a suitable supplier, get on the Internet and use a search engine to do a keyword search. It really is that simple.
MOISTURE AND WOOD
It is desirable to carve in wood that has an approximate moisture content of 10 to 12%. The correct moisture content not only makes your carving experience easier and more enjoyable, but it also produces a much nicer appearance. While there is no