3:40 Haha, I carve with hickory (mockernut) all the time and love it. Chips your chisels, dulls your knives faster than you can sharpen them, takes an eternity to make anything, but the quality of the end product is unparalleled. You can fit in the sharpest, tiniest details. Finishing a hickory carving feels like a real accomplishment.
I'm in the States but I don't have a Woodcraft store nearby so I go to Lowe's and I have typically used Poplar. Poplar does hold decent detail, at least for novice, it's soft enough to not hurt the hands, and it'll get you working on practice cuts and understanding the fundamentals of woodcarving without breaking the bank.
at 71 I have just started carving hoping it will keep my hands a bit supple well one hand anyway the other has been plated to stabilise it . I would like to say thank you for your time guess I will have to source what type of wood we have in Yorkshire , think the hardest is going to be finding those crooked pieces of wood 5/6 foot long to make walking sticks as my sticks are metal sure looking forward to learn this beautiful past time thanks again Tom Holland please keep these vids going.
I started carving when living in New Hampshire. My first item was a Sandpiper made out of piece of Maple rescued from our campfire woodpile. I took forever... then I found air dried Eastern White Pine at a local saw mill. It was very good, Later we moved to Minnesota. I tried basswood from a couple of different craft store and woodworking store sources with mixed results. It wasn't until I attended a Harley Refsal class that I found air-dried Northern Minnesota Basswood. The northern woods grow at a slower rate thanothersh and the preferred method of harvesting is to cut in the winter, when the wood is the driest, and left to air dry. In the Spring the logs are cut into slabs, then cut into the desired dimensions. it is like carving a bar of soap compared to the other woods.
I agree. We live in northern Wisconsin. My husband cuts basswood for me from our property. He cuts it in the winter and air dries it. Nice white wood. Great for carving. Frog Creek in Minong, Wisconsin also sells butternut and bass. You can find him on the web. Nice guy, nice wood.
Hi everybody! I live in Finland, around here is very hard to come across linden(tilia cordata) aka basswood, but I found Aspen to be a good replacement. Pine is highly available... you can kick off the ground and cedar is sometimes foundable :) Have fun carving. Thanks Doug, always appreciate your videos!!!
I'm super super happy to have found your channel! I've just started whittling recently. It's been so super helpful. I'm from nova scotia! I've been carving using pieces of 2x2x8 pine from home depot. It's under 13.00 for 8 feet. I'd love to carve with some basswood but it only grows as close as new Brunswick from what I've been able to gather.
I am a beginner. I was surfing through RUclips and found your site. I and my wife are artist but we do painting and collages and such. Have watched carvers in action at county fairs an thought that looks like fun. So now you have inspired me to sharpen my pocket knife and give it a go. Have watched a tutorial on the knives and tools and now yours on the best woods. We live on the Southcoast of Oregon in a *small* town called Charleston,(population 1800 +/- )
This was a great video, Doug! I am very new to carving, so this understanding of woods helps immensely. On my property I have cedar, alder (lots of it), and what looks to be fir. From a recent storm we had a couple of cedar limbs that fell to the ground, and I have started to mill that up for my next whittling project. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I'm in Maryland, USA. I'm a complete and total amateur failure. I really really wanted to carve a wood spirit from a branch but couldn't find any pre-dried branches so I purchased some birch logs from the local craft store. Well my hand and wrist hurt for days and the carving looked like crap--it was all rough and splintered. (Now I know why! Birch is too hard for my weak hands!) I had no idea I could just carve green wood from a freshly cut branch. Everything I researched online said I had to use pre-dried wood. Bottom line: this video gave me so much more information about wood than ANYTHING I could find online, so thank you very much, Doug! Now I just need to learn about carving tools. I think the set I bought from Amazon is crap because carving basswood is difficult, and the wood splits and splinters no matter how much I sharpen the knives. ☹️
Hi, I'm a bowl turner on Oahu Hawaii. We get an incredible amount of beautiful tropical woods but no basswood. I checked with our local WoodCraft store and they had a small variety so I picked up some. Now to sharpen my knife and get busy.. Thanks Doug.
I am from the West Coast (Washington State) so I started carving Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar and, sometimes a Red Alder branch. Now I am retired in Northern Italy and don't know the local woods. So far most of my carving has been on the wood salvaged from two trees that we removed from the front yard, when we moved in. I think one is a type of Juniper and the other some sort of Pine. (maybe) The rest has been found wood. I take whatever I find left over from anyones roadwork or gardening. I have come to appreciate the challenge of carving unfamiliar woods. There are surprises; some bad but many are good. My point is: Do not be afraid to use whatever you can get! Each wood has it's own virtues and few woods are totally bad!
Absolutely love the videos Doug, you’re a huge inspiration in the world of whittling, carving, craftsmanship and wood art! In the UK I’ve found Silver Birch, Scots Pine and Spruce to be the easiest. Though for interesting results with hardwood I would recommend English Oak for it’s beautiful ivory-like burr and Rhododendron for holding detail (it makes an almost indestructible walking stick!)! Keep up the good work my friend!
Thanks for the great videos! I am a beginner, and have only done a few carvings, but as I sat down to watch your snowman video, I had just peeled two carrots to snack on. I realized that a piece of carrot would make a great snowman. I also carved a couple of other things from carrot including a spoon. It was a good way to get some easy experience, with minimal time required.
Doug my favourite woods are willow basswood lime birch pine off cuts scraps can be got for free in lumber yards I also keep ears open for any one useing chainsaw it’s my motivation to see what tree being cut chance for free carving wood 🪵 greetings from the uk 🇬🇧 🐾🦊
Hey, a carver after my heart!.Your videos are informative and considerate, thanks! I started as a young teenager....63 now..no pro, but carving is next to heaven! lol. I used what I could ge my hands on.1x12 white pine shelving.Look specifically for fine grain. Did a ball and cage in high school wood shop from sweet gum. Sweet gum and white pine is fine, but basswood rules. Aspen is about as good as pine and bass. I have found good wood on pallets. Thought it to be aspen but probably bass. My genre is all kinds of animals and flowers in small the size of my hand.....elk, deer, bass bream, salmon, eagles, cardinals, hummingbirds, are a few....I burn, texture the scales, hair, and feathers.I have done a few wood spirits and Santa's. I'm down with Covid19 but am enjoying every comment. Thanks
I'm loving these wood carving vids! You are in your element Doug! I have no desire to carve but your videos keep me captivated. When you are doing what you love, your light shines brightly... and even gives off that warm sunshine feeling to those around you. Thanks for sharing!
I don't carve, but I have friend who does. He has carved some absolutely beautiful rose buds from lilac. It's somewhat difficult to come across the bigger branches that you need, but most times if you ask the neighbors he has had success in getting some to carve. It's really smooth when sanded lightly and just looks stunning.
Doug my name is David. I live in the Mountains of Tennessee. And I have watched every video you have made. I really have learned a lot from them. I have been carving for almost two years now and I enjoy it so much. I carve mostly on Pine wood because Basswood doesn't grow here on the mountain. Sometimes I get Basswood from Hobby Lobby and it has cracks in it and knots but sometimes I get some good Basswood and that is I really enjoy carving. I live on Disability and so I can't really afford to buy Basswood from some of the places that sell it in the North. But I really like your carving program and a lot of my carvings are copyediting from yours.hope you have a Great Day and have another CUP OF COFFEE. 👍😊
In the US, just started carving and get basswood from a large internet provider..... Learning how to control the knives and 'see' what's inside the wood!
After reading some comments of using willow and then Doug replied about cottonwood/poplar, I thought I should go to my pasture. Found a willow branch which yielded three 4" x 2" pcs. and cottonwood three 4" x 1" pcs. Started on the cottonwood and it seems to carve easily. Seems to be a woodland type spirit with a dog like face :) and arms of some sort in this first piece. Hadn't carved ever, so Doug you are the inspiration to start carving for me, thank you, appreciate your teaching manner. Also had to comment so have started my channel instead of just 'lurking' :). Appears to be a great community here, thanks. And a special thanks to Doug. Respectfully Charlie
Great video Doug. Been using bass for a quite a few beginner carvings now but just made my 1st ornament out of pine and like you said it carves nice. I make a lot of utensils and such over the last few years out of hardwoods like walnut,cherry,maple and beech mainly done with the bandsaw and power sanding. Walnut cost the most but it takes less time per spatula to make so that’s what I’ve been liking the most and beech is way at the bottom as like you said before if I think I want to use beech I’ll hit myself in the forehead till I change my mind lol. Love the series your making as I want to keep learning.
I live in Illinois and I mostly use Basswood . I recently bought some alder for 3.50 a board ft it carves really nice I think they call it the poor man's cherry! oh yeah thanks Doug your my favorite carving. you tuber!
Brain Thanks, trouble is that is 120 mile South West of me, mainly West. 20 years ago,before this Agent Orange problem got so bad, that was no problem. I actually got my two F150's truck beds sprayed with Line-X bedliner not far from there. It wasn't cheap, but great stuff.
Third video down today, lol, enjoying the series. I love reading through the comments too. I'm gonna practice on found wood for now and keep the hobby as cheap as possible. We have cottonwood, lilac, scrub oak and pine. I'm interested in spoons and useful things to start. Maybe some hair combs and hair sticks to start too. Thanks
Hi, Doug et al, I am from the UK and getting basswood through Amazon is possible. I also have some UK lime but it is a lot harder to cut. To get a bulk delivery of wood at a better price I went to my local lumber yard and bought planed pine inch and half by inch and a half. It is red pine and is close-grained but cuts OK as a suitable UK alternative. I have also bought Chinese balsa wood posing as Bassa wood from Amazon and it cuts beautifully. You can get some great detail too. The balsa wood is soft but if you saw it in any way use a breathing mask or extraction. The dust is a bad irritant. Keep up the good work Doug. You inspired me to have a go and I am hooked.
Basswood, lime, linden are all from the same genus (tilia) and are largely interchangeable. Lime is the long time favourite for woodcarving in the UK, much of the fine work you see in cathedrals etc is lime.
@@steveogden5774 Thank you for your reply. I always believe the Basswood in the US/Canada is a superior product to our UK lime. By that, I mean softer, smoother to cut and a lot fewer knots and blemishes.
Hi Doug. I live in San Antonio,TX. I use basswood, sugar pine when I can get it, and tup gum wood from Louisiana. I carve decoys and birds of prey. Regards. Chip
Thanks Doug, nice easy to follow series and you're careful when saying what works for you that you leave room for the views of others...well done! Here in Southern Oregon we have White Pine that carves very nicely, soft but also the grain resists splitting away like cedar. Red Alder also works fine, just a bit harder. Also, Ponderosa Pine works very well for master cane carver Mike Stinnett over at Stinnett Sticks on YT.
Doug you got me hooked, am currently recovering from an accident and my sister found a knife for wood carving for me as a Xmas gift so far I've made the owl and the hillbilly from your videos you make it so easy don't know why I didn't do this 40 years ago .. oh yeh no internet lol
Loving the series. You are going through all the things I have wondered about. I have been thinking about getting into carving as it is something I have always wanted to try. I knew about the woods you use since I have been watching your videos for a long while now. However, it was really nice how you went through a few types and what they are like. Now to just get me some tools and some wood and give it a try.
Gabe, I am an old woodworker and, like you, starting to learn to carve, sitting in a rocking chair next to the wife who is knitting. As a woodworker, I learned that it is best to start with a minimum. Get a single, inexpensive carving knife and a piece of soft wood. In process, you will perhaps discover the need for another, different tool. I think it a mistake to buy relatively expensive tool sets since, normally, you will end up using only use a few anyway and the rest are just clutter. Purchase of one inexpensive tool at a time because of need and you will avoid tools you paid for but never use. Simplicity.
@@ericdussell7421 I've been watching this Doug fella for most of the winter. I think he has special knives that make carving simple. I've tried a couple of 4 inch carvings, a native man in a blanket and a 4 inch little man with his hands in his pockets. It's only after you start carving that you realize the skill that Doug has. He certainly makes it look easy. These videos on different woods, stroping and different tricks to add shadows to make carvings just a bit more refined are great. It'll take some time but I'm going to try to train my knives a little more than they are now.
I needed this video, because all i have is 2 chisels and wood that i power through and i thought it would be a good idea to take it easy and work smarter not harder because theres a lot smarter men out there like me. I appreciate again brother, stay blessed!!
My favorite wood to carve is maple very satisfying but harsh, it's everywhere but I switch to bass once my hands had enough lol . Thanks for your videos you . I watched 4 or 5 of your videos, now I carve everychance I get, thanks agin peace an love.
My father-in-law more than 50 years ago milled acre's of family property in West Virginia. I'm the recipient of many pallets of black walnut, cherry, oak's, tulip & poplar. Many others, so I carve the popular! It's my favorite.
Over here in the UK we have a reasonable selection, I am just in the process of beginning to carve so as yet have not got a favourite, that is why posts like this one Doug are informative and useful. I have a friend who is a tree surgeon and I usually ask him what he has been cutting lately and take my pick from him.
Alan Scott I'm in UK too and I use lime which I think is as near as you'll get to basswood and it's great to carve. I get it from a place in penrith !! If you interested let me know and give you there details 👍
Alan Hurley it's a company called G& S specialist timber.There at stainton in penrith postcode isCA110ES website is www.toolsandtimber.co.uk they do allsorts , worth a look , good luck 👍
Thanks for the video, Doug. I've always said you're a great teacher & going through the basics is going to help so many beginners. Heinecke Wood has the best basswood in the US. Always clean and tight grain.
I've been tinkering with the idea of buying a couple good carving knives, quality sharpening stones, making a strop, etc and starting. I wish I could just try it with one of my pocket knives but I'm no genius knife sharpener yet. I can sharpen chisels and my hatchet scary sharp though. Anyway, the point of this comment is to say that basswood was $8.99 for a relatively small piece at Menards (2"x4"x8") and I walked. LOL I enjoy your videos and am artistic so there's still hope for me to try it. Keep up the great work, Doug!
Robert Emerson - Wow..they must have had it marked incorrectly. Bell Forest Products has 2”x2”x12” inch basswood blanks for $3.00. Check out WoodCraft or Rockler or Cooks Woods too. Our Hobby Lobby carries a good supply of small blocks that are perfect for many of Doug’s carvings (like last years Snowman).
Hay Doug, I’m originally from the UK, but now live in northern Germany. I’m surrounded by huge forests full of oak. Basswood is my preferred wood for hand carving. I also carve with a chainsaw using oak, pine and ash as these are readily available to me on the door step. I can’t find anywhere near me that sells basswood. I have to buy it off Amazon. Love your videos Doug, very interesting and inspirational. Thanks Al.
I'm from Austtalia too and wanted to start getting into carving.... I'm wondering is there any pine or something I can get from Bunnings or do I need to find a more timber specialist.
Carbatec sell Bass wood, also if you're from Perth the wood school sell it aswell and Pops shed in Melbourne. The only thing I've found is that they are all expensive unfortunately..
Hi there. I'm from Melbourne and yea, same. Haven't been able to find something appropriate. I've tried carving pine wood sourced from local bunnings but it is difficult and pretty hard. All they sell is construction wood, which i believe is hardened. Tried talking to local arts and crafts shop. Got recommendation for Balsa Wood. Please do not fell for it. It's shit. Waste of money and Time.
10pm just finished the video and scrolling through the comments when I just noticed the straight grained very well seasoned Scots pine I brought in for tomorrow’s stove kindling. Also remembered the Swiss army hiker with the 1 1/2” blade on my belt. 🤔 The wife is gonna kill me in the morning when she sees all the wood shavings. 😮 Hell who wants to live for ever anyway? 😄. Keep the great videos coming.👍🏴
From the USA. Great video, as usual, Doug. You are an inspiration to everyone from beginners to seasoned carvers. Thank you for that. I love cottonwood bark, but I also carve basswood, butternut, pine etc. I was given in trade a very large piece of mahogany that was like a tabletop size. I carved a beautiful eagle out of that piece. I also had a friend of mine make a memory box out of part of it. I carved memories in the box sides for my granddaughter of her and her father. We lost my son to suicide 9 years ago and I wanted something for her to keep memories of her father in. It turned out beautiful. I still have plenty of that piece left. Keep inspiring and teaching, I learn a lot from you.
Hi Doug, as you recommended in your video I told you which kind of wood I prefer to carve. I'm from Italy and it is quite difficult to find different kind of wood in our bricoshops. Usually it is easy to find pine or fir. But like you I prefer to carve basswood that I order to Amazon (chipper) or in Trentino Alto Adige (costy). Please continue with your didactic video about carve. Many thanks for your fantastic work and teaching that is very helpful. Luigi (Covo) Bergamo - Italy
I'm at the top of Vancouver Island in the Pacific Northwest. I've been using yellow cedar which carves like a dream, much less likely to tear and chip than red cedar.
@@Lzz79326 I get it from a local mill owner as scraps from the processing. You get alot of junk pieces but pay next to nothing. I would call around and if no scraps, try find a rough cut 2x2.
Thank you Doug. I love Cedar. I live in Washington state. I don't carve but I do paint using watercolor on cedar leftovers. It is the King of all trees so maybe that is why I love it so much.🍁💗🌹❤
I bought a block of linden here about 6 times the amount of that one stick of bass wood you showed here in Switzerland 21 Franks a frank is the same as a US dollar.I have only seen it to buy at one place here. But Yes carves great. I started with pine but hard to get nice grained pine here.
Doug, all of your videos are so excellent, thanks! .....I guess I'm 'one of the guys'...LOL!!! PS....I'm a wood turner from Kentucky, USA and my favorite wood is Holly. I adore it.
Thank you for this, Doug. Bass wood it is, then (probably easiest on the arthritis that is starting in my hands). Adding that to my Christmas wish list. :-) Looking forward to the safety video (already have safety gloves on my list).
I’m in New York, I like basswood first that I order from E bay . I also use poplar and pine , cedar that I can get out in my woods. I have tried apple and oak to hard for me to use to carve but did make nice wooden mallets. Tried maple but keep breaking out the nose or some other spots so don’t use anymore
I have over 500 pieces of poplar 1.5 x 1.5 x 4" or 1.5 x 1.5 x 9" from a stair installation shop. Free to me. Cannot wait to get started with carving! Great series! New Sub here.
Really? Well I'll be damned but I never saw any of those bins :/ it's actually my local pizzeria that does this lol. They have a brick oven and use wood for fire and sometimes they get small basswood mixed in and I usually go and ask them at the end of the day. Other than that, amazon and collecting fallen branches from forests...
Love these videos. They’ve inspired me to pick my knife up and carve. People are fascinated by the hobby and love to ask me questions when they see me doing it. Rockler and Hobby Lobby are my favorite places to go get Basswood here in St. Louis. Will try the trim section of Home Depot for pine. I carve try-sticks from green tulip and willow when I don’t have my carving kit with me. Keeps me busy and engaged. Plan to try your wood spirit in a section of cedar when I’m out camping.
Hey Doug! I love your videos and your channel. You are such an honest, friendly guy. Thank you for your awesome service to the carving world. I too am in Canada (Vancouver Island). Where do you get basswood from, may I ask? Cheers!
Hi Doug I am from the great state of maine . Been carving for 22 years . It’s my winter hobby . I share your opinion s on wood an basswood pine and cedar are my favorites and butternut for hardwood s. Some basswood can be hard as a rock. I throw those in the stove. Most of my carving now are Christmas ornaments for the grandkids. Great videos
I’m a noobie at this, so thanks for a good grounding of knowledge to get started. Silver birch, pine and rhoddies are in abundance where I live on the west coast of Scotland. So thanks for taking the time to make the vid.
Hi Doug, I carved waterfowl years ago & used Tupelo a number of times. I am able to find it in Burlington Exotic Woods... a shop to check out for sure. Great video again Sir!
Hi Doug Chris here from northern Louisiana, I'm a fairly new Carver (I've always whittled a little) but now working on developing it into a craft with furniture/architecture. Bass wood is phenomenal but pine is the biggest abundance around here along with cedar and cypress both easy when wet but can be a challenge when dry. Really looking forward to future videos. Thanks for the schooling!
I live in Tennessee. My favorite wood is basswood, but I am currently carving a wizard/santa on a 1" pine stick. I order my wood from Heinecke Brothers.
Hi Doug, also Canada, but the other side (out west). Very new to this and it has sort of become my physio exercise for my hands, as well as settle the mind. Learning bushcraft and started collecting kinves. Leaning the new steals and sharpening. Which than let me into whittling, lol. We have our own poplar, spruce and willow. But right now prefer the Basswood (Linden). I seen your video on buying a bigger block and cutting it up. So looking into the right used saw to process the blocks, to make it affordable. And thanks for the encouragement of just keep going and practicing. Thought with nerves dying and losing strength I can not do it. But learning to keep knives sharp goes a long way to compensate. I can not stand or walk much anymore, particular in heat. So if I am forced to sit, it is great to keep busy and show something at the end. Love all your dogs too! Thank you and all the best from Alberta ;0
I am from Germany, just started because of your videos. I finished my first wizard and it was nice to see what comes out of a block of wood and a bit of imagination. And bought my first helvie knife :) Started with basswood which I ordered online. The actual piece is a bit hard to carve but that's how it is. Next time I will have a look for the wood from the sawmill. Continue with your great work and stay healty! Cheers!
@Niklas Kleine hello from Colorado. I also bought online bass wood and struggled with how hard it was. The Helvie knife looks a bit thinner than every other knife I have found and I imagine the this makes a lot of difference on easy the knife cuts through the wood. (My knifes - no matter how sharp it is - never goes through the bass wood like Doug’s knife. But the Helvie knifes are impossible to buy now at reasonable prices so I just have to cut thinner/smaller pieces off. Good luck! There are better basswoods out there.
I'm from the east slope of the Cascades in WA state. I have only done a handful of carvings all based on you tutorials. I used Aspen which grows right on my property. It seemed to work really well!
I learned from a woodcarver from Persia to use Kerosene when my carving wood is dry. It almost seems like it replaces the oil in the wood. I lived in the desert and even Basswood could be hard and dry. I was taught to brush the Kerosine on the day before. The smell evaporates in time. I found alcohol and water evaporated too quick. Kerosine can also be used to clean your carving.
Thanks Doug! I am new to this. Caught your first Livestream the other night. Thanks for that also! I can go through your back catalog and get many of the questions I have , answered.
Hi,Doug,Love the hooded jersey.I have seen you wearing one before and asked my daughter to do one for me as she dabbles in doing tee shirts ect.Alas she got it wrong and instead of printing i carve she printed i crave.So now everyone keeps asking what am i craving for.It gets embarrasing
Just what I wanted to see, I have some logs of poplar and glad to see it looks easy to carve - after asking tree surgeons for a piece of branch from a lime tree being cut down round the corner - over three days it took - and they didn't leave me a crumb! Thanks for demo!
Hi Dough: I've been carving off and on for a bunch of years. I hadn't carved for a couple of years now, until I found you through Joe Robinet . (miss you two together) Most of my experience is with Bass Wood. I guess it is my favorite. I have a friend that is a master and he carves only Tupelo. I found a Lumber yard in Central Florida Triton Lumber when I was carving a lot, that sells a variety of woods. They had a bunch of 2 1/2"X6"X30" Bass wood. I bought three at $24.00 each. Right now I am carving a Cedar walking stick. It is definitely not my favorite. I trimmed it off a back yard tree a few years ago and it sat in my shop till now. Maybe I should have carved it when it was wet. Liked this video a lot. Thanks Doug.
Here in Northeastern Pennsylvania USA there is hardwood galore Red and White Oak, Maple, Cherry which my backyard is full of, and ash which Is slowely dying off because of a beetle infestation... We do have pine which is prolific... I’ve found carving and turning green then suppressing Drying to as slow as possible seems to be the easiest... Thanks for the great videos and channel Doug !
I have uploaded some carvings to my channel I try to carve realistic faces so it takes me 24 hours or more to carve but that's because I'm still learning also.
The perfect fall background... sparse leaves on the tree, yellow w/some red and brown on the ground, brisky fall air, slight wind, nice day. Yup, it's fall... That said, these are my favorite woods for carving using edged tools within 4 years of seasoning and curing. 1. Sycamore - plentiful and very accessible in my region. Carves sludgy like poplar but softer and easier on the tools when making controlled cuts. Slight chippy grain, but absolutely love the handling and the sharpness like a dense basswood. I've carved wood spirits, indian carvings, bush tools, netting shuttles, reliefs, caricatures, ornaments, etc when using this wood. 2. Eastern red cedar - common and somewhat accessible in my region. Carves sludgy when new, but just as pleasant when dry. Some splintering when roughing out, care must be exercised. Great smelling carve when new. 10 woods and experience with them. 3. Radiata Pine - Not found where i live, but can be had at home improvement stores and fairly inexpensive (regarded as 'select' pine) . Very pleasant wood to carve where quick planal carving is concerned, cuts a slight bit sludgy(great for controlled cuts). Great for sign making on a budget. 4. Poplar - very accessible as 'Tulip Poplar' in my region but can be had at home improvement stores reasonably priced (the type sold at stores is known as 'Yellow Poplar'(considered a magnolia)) Carves great and handles nicely, somewhat grainy even teary when cutting with the grain. 5. Basswood/Linden - plentiful and very accessible in my region. Can be had at the art stores in blocks.(There are 2 species native to North America- Carolina Bass Wood and American Bass Wood.) Carves like poplar has a nice card board sludgy feel. Great when carving cross grain slightly chippy when dry. The appeal is in the cross grain cut. Considered the standard for wood carvers everywhere. 6. Mulberry wood - plentiful and very accessible in my region.(grows wild) When newly cut (w/ cambium left on) Carves like new cedar. Has a sludgy feel when carving which i find excellent when making controlled cuts. Has a paper patchy feel and at times very stringy grain but i have made some real beauties while carving with this wood! Holds detail like a champ. Maybe 2nd to Sycamore. 7. Sassafras - common and somewhat accessible in my region. Carves very nice when seasoned properly 8. Soft Maple - plentiful and very accessible in my region. Carves really nice especially when the utmost detail is concerned. Absolute go to when making walking sticks. 9. Walnut - common and somewhat accessible in my region. Carves like cottonwood bark but yet controllable although dense. Oak grain like feel with minimal splintering, slight chippy with grain. Beautiful bare finish. Darkens over time (like Cherry) 10. Aspen - Not found where i live although can be had at home improvement stores and inexpensive. Carves like well seasoned pine, but softer. Best where quick planal carvings are concerned. Great for ornaments and wood spirits. Honorable mentions - Tupelo, Cottonwood, Cherry, rhododendron, birch
Hi Doug, great videos. I’m in Ireland and I like to watch anything handcrafted and came across this quite by accident. I’ve never carved anything in my life but I cast and hand paint figurines. May take up carving after watching this.
Thanks for all these video's Doug, I am beginning to feel like your apprentice... Going through these tutorials 👍 I live in England, on the edge of Haworth moors, so I sit and whittle on the moor with my dogs, I just used bits I would pick up from the woods, and mess until now. I buy Basswood online at the moment, I am happy with that, I do think I need to upgrade my knives now, I am beginning to understand it more. I am currently trying to work out how to whittle a spoon with one of your owls in the handle, for my daughter, her favorite animal.
I didn't have any interest with carving....saw Doug on Joe's Robinets channel...checked out Doug's channel and I'm hooked. Love his carvings and I want to get into carving now....
Hi doug I am very new to the point of my knifes and 5 peaces of basswood arrived today an I am so excited to try this as you can literally go anywhere as long as you have your knife ect your set I live in the UK 🇬🇧 and for 20 4inch long by 1inch wide basswood is £20 for 20 peaces, eventually ide like to have a go at using sticks off a tree ect it's cheeper, have a good day xxhelenxx
Thanks Doug, I am from Bahrain (Arabian Gulf) And I find it difficult to fine the type of wood you mention in the video But I will try and ones I get I will inform you Thanks again
Lots of good stuff in this video Doug. I have loads of wood here in Kentucky. Some works ok some need a machine to work it in any way. I order some interesting woods from a company called woodcraft to see how they will work. It might be an option for people looking to try something more exotic than what they can get local. I have about a dozen sawmills within an hour's drive. they have lots of cutoffs for cheap or free after you get to know the people there. It's always surprising what you can find close by when you start looking.
I was thinking about that. Probably done using a lathe. Should be accomplished pretty quickly. Need to sand ends to remove stubs holding the wood blank in the lathe. Cheap to just buy basswood eggs.
Glad you touched on greenwood carving. One thing you can do is split the green branches/logs to remove any of the pith (center part) and rough them down to size with a hatchet. Then wrap them in plastic and throw them in the back of a freezer. This will keep them "green" so you can take one out when you're ready to carve. I have a small stock from walks in the woods behind my house looking for broken limbs and blow downs. I'm only into cups and spoons at the moment. Maple is plentiful around me and just makes the most lovely finished products when dried, but it's still a bit tough to carve green and man it hardens up fast while you're carving - even after just a day or two. Yellow birch is nice, and smells delicious as you carve it. I just came across some Beech which also carves nice. I'd put it somewhere between maple and birch for hardness and ease of carving. I've carved signs from pine and never liked the way it splinters. And it can be a little messy with the pitch. Good to know that cedar is one to try. I do have some cedar drying in the shed but I think what we call cedar around here is actually juniper (aromatic or eastern red cedar). I'm not sure it's as good to carve.
Hey Doug I just found your channel while searching for wood carving videos as I’m new to carving videos. I watched 1 video & immediately subscribed to you bc it seems like you have every sort of video that I need being new to the hobby!!
love the videos, live in central states usa. i get my wood from new jersey. white cedar. try, it is the best cedar of the cedars. the smell is sweet and carves like a dream. this cedar is much different than main or southern states cedar. the cost is averaged around 2.50 and 3.50 a board foot. usa.
@@mikewells2191 hello mike, his name is spike wells, 888 rt 206, shamong, nj, 08088, phone is 609 284 1025. just tell him what you are looking for, size and he will set you up. this guy is not cityfied so to speak, lol. he is a limber jack so be kind, lol. tell him the guy from missouri who bought a lot of wood sent ya. may help, good luck call him spike.
I'm new to carving. I started last winter thanks to your christmas tree and Snowman videos. Thanks for your time and efforts. I'm from St. Louis and have to order my wood.
3:40 Haha, I carve with hickory (mockernut) all the time and love it. Chips your chisels, dulls your knives faster than you can sharpen them, takes an eternity to make anything, but the quality of the end product is unparalleled. You can fit in the sharpest, tiniest details. Finishing a hickory carving feels like a real accomplishment.
How often do you have to sharpen everything during these projects?
First time watcher and newcomer to woodcarving,
I’m just here to say that this man is amazing
I'm in the States but I don't have a Woodcraft store nearby so I go to Lowe's and I have typically used Poplar. Poplar does hold decent detail, at least for novice, it's soft enough to not hurt the hands, and it'll get you working on practice cuts and understanding the fundamentals of woodcarving without breaking the bank.
at 71 I have just started carving hoping it will keep my hands a bit supple well one hand anyway the other has been plated to stabilise it . I would like to say thank you for your time guess I will have to source what type of wood we have in Yorkshire , think the hardest is going to be finding those crooked pieces of wood 5/6 foot long to make walking sticks as my sticks are metal sure looking forward to learn this beautiful past time thanks again Tom Holland please keep these vids going.
I started carving when living in New Hampshire. My first item was a Sandpiper made out of piece of Maple rescued from our campfire woodpile. I took forever... then I found air dried Eastern White Pine at a local saw mill. It was very good, Later we moved to Minnesota. I tried basswood from a couple of different craft store and woodworking store sources with mixed results. It wasn't until I attended a Harley Refsal class that I found air-dried Northern Minnesota Basswood. The northern woods grow at a slower rate thanothersh and the preferred method of harvesting is to cut in the winter, when the wood is the driest, and left to air dry. In the Spring the logs are cut into slabs, then cut into the desired dimensions. it is like carving a bar of soap compared to the other woods.
I agree. We live in northern Wisconsin. My husband cuts basswood for me from our property. He cuts it in the winter and air dries it. Nice white wood. Great for carving. Frog Creek in Minong, Wisconsin also sells butternut and bass. You can find him on the web. Nice guy, nice wood.
Hi everybody! I live in Finland, around here is very hard to come across linden(tilia cordata) aka basswood, but I found Aspen to be a good replacement. Pine is highly available... you can kick off the ground and cedar is sometimes foundable :) Have fun carving. Thanks Doug, always appreciate your videos!!!
I'm super super happy to have found your channel! I've just started whittling recently. It's been so super helpful. I'm from nova scotia! I've been carving using pieces of 2x2x8 pine from home depot. It's under 13.00 for 8 feet. I'd love to carve with some basswood but it only grows as close as new Brunswick from what I've been able to gather.
I am a beginner. I was surfing through RUclips and found your site. I and my wife are artist but we do painting and collages and such. Have watched carvers in action at county fairs an thought that looks like fun. So now you have inspired me to sharpen my pocket knife and give it a go. Have watched a tutorial on the knives and tools and now yours on the best woods. We live on the Southcoast of Oregon in a *small* town called Charleston,(population 1800 +/- )
Oregon coast is know for their Myrtle Wood carvings.
This was a great video, Doug! I am very new to carving, so this understanding of woods helps immensely. On my property I have cedar, alder (lots of it), and what looks to be fir. From a recent storm we had a couple of cedar limbs that fell to the ground, and I have started to mill that up for my next whittling project. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I'm in Maryland, USA. I'm a complete and total amateur failure. I really really wanted to carve a wood spirit from a branch but couldn't find any pre-dried branches so I purchased some birch logs from the local craft store. Well my hand and wrist hurt for days and the carving looked like crap--it was all rough and splintered. (Now I know why! Birch is too hard for my weak hands!)
I had no idea I could just carve green wood from a freshly cut branch. Everything I researched online said I had to use pre-dried wood. Bottom line: this video gave me so much more information about wood than ANYTHING I could find online, so thank you very much, Doug!
Now I just need to learn about carving tools. I think the set I bought from Amazon is crap because carving basswood is difficult, and the wood splits and splinters no matter how much I sharpen the knives. ☹️
Green Birch is good to carve with a Dremel ive found
The choice in wood. Great information. Thanks for the mention Doug
Hi, I'm a bowl turner on Oahu Hawaii. We get an incredible amount of beautiful tropical woods but no basswood. I checked with our local WoodCraft store and they had a small variety so I picked up some. Now to sharpen my knife and get busy.. Thanks Doug.
I am from the West Coast (Washington State) so I started carving Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar and, sometimes a Red Alder branch. Now I am retired in Northern Italy and don't know the local woods. So far most of my carving has been on the wood salvaged from two trees that we removed from the front yard, when we moved in. I think one is a type of Juniper and the other some sort of Pine. (maybe) The rest has been found wood. I take whatever I find left over from anyones roadwork or gardening. I have come to appreciate the challenge of carving unfamiliar woods. There are surprises; some bad but many are good. My point is: Do not be afraid to use whatever you can get! Each wood has it's own virtues and few woods are totally bad!
Absolutely love the videos Doug, you’re a huge inspiration in the world of whittling, carving, craftsmanship and wood art!
In the UK I’ve found Silver Birch, Scots Pine and Spruce to be the easiest. Though for interesting results with hardwood I would recommend English Oak for it’s beautiful ivory-like burr and Rhododendron for holding detail (it makes an almost indestructible walking stick!)!
Keep up the good work my friend!
Rhododendron is nice to carve - but I find it splits easily if undercut a lot. Here in Ireland lime is easy to get and carves beautifully
Hey, thanks for the heads up on Rhododendron, I'll try it...
Amen!
How do you get a straight coppice of rhododendron?
Thanks for the great videos! I am a beginner, and have only done a few carvings, but as I sat down to watch your snowman video, I had just peeled two carrots to snack on. I realized that a piece of carrot would make a great snowman. I also carved a couple of other things from carrot including a spoon. It was a good way to get some easy experience, with minimal time required.
What an incredible idea for new no experience and maybe no ability carvers and you get to eat your mistakes.
Doug my favourite woods are willow basswood lime birch pine off cuts scraps can be got for free in lumber yards I also keep ears open for any one useing chainsaw it’s my motivation to see what tree being cut chance for free carving wood 🪵 greetings from the uk 🇬🇧 🐾🦊
Hey, a carver after my heart!.Your videos are informative and considerate, thanks! I started as a young teenager....63 now..no pro, but carving is next to heaven! lol. I used what I could ge my hands on.1x12 white pine shelving.Look specifically for fine grain. Did a ball and cage in high school wood shop from sweet gum. Sweet gum and white pine is fine, but basswood rules. Aspen is about as good as pine and bass. I have found good wood on pallets. Thought it to be aspen but probably bass. My genre is all kinds of animals and flowers in small the size of my hand.....elk, deer, bass bream, salmon, eagles, cardinals, hummingbirds, are a few....I burn, texture the scales, hair, and feathers.I have done a few wood spirits and Santa's. I'm down with Covid19 but am enjoying every comment. Thanks
I'm loving these wood carving vids! You are in your element Doug! I have no desire to carve but your videos keep me captivated. When you are doing what you love, your light shines brightly... and even gives off that warm sunshine feeling to those around you. Thanks for sharing!
I don't carve, but I have friend who does. He has carved some absolutely beautiful rose buds from lilac. It's somewhat difficult to come across the bigger branches that you need, but most times if you ask the neighbors he has had success in getting some to carve. It's really smooth when sanded lightly and just looks stunning.
Gregory Brinks ... are you talking about lilac bushes?
Mick Keim yes
Doug my name is David. I live in the Mountains of Tennessee. And I have watched every video you have made. I really have learned a lot from them. I have been carving for almost two years now and I enjoy it so much. I carve mostly on Pine wood because Basswood doesn't grow here on the mountain. Sometimes I get Basswood from Hobby Lobby and it has cracks in it and knots but sometimes I get some good Basswood and that is I really enjoy carving. I live on Disability and so I can't really afford to buy Basswood from some of the places that sell it in the North. But I really like your carving program and a lot of my carvings are copyediting from yours.hope you have a Great Day and have another CUP OF COFFEE. 👍😊
Great video Doug, very helpful
Came across your channel. I love what you built. I’m a novice and will try to build this. Thank you and more power!
What about pecan wood? It's a soft wood...have you ever carved with this wood?
@@jagone7 pecan is a hard wood. I had a whole tree of it and after it was dried it was really hard to carve. But it's great for smoking
Never tried to carve pecan. Anytime I've gotten some I use it for smoking meat. Lol
In the US, just started carving and get basswood from a large internet provider.....
Learning how to control the knives and 'see' what's inside the wood!
Thank you! I checked out basswood at hobby lobby in Florida and YikE$$$! So happy to hear that pine is okay for beginners.
Ask or check behind stores for scrap wood or pallets. Most hardware stores have "free piles".
After reading some comments of using willow and then Doug replied about cottonwood/poplar, I thought I should go to my pasture. Found a willow branch which yielded three 4" x 2" pcs. and cottonwood three 4" x 1" pcs. Started on the cottonwood and it seems to carve easily. Seems to be a woodland type spirit with a dog like face :) and arms of some sort in this first piece.
Hadn't carved ever, so Doug you are the inspiration to start carving for me, thank you, appreciate your teaching manner. Also had to comment so have started my channel instead of just 'lurking' :).
Appears to be a great community here, thanks. And a special thanks to Doug.
Respectfully Charlie
Great video Doug. Been using bass for a quite a few beginner carvings now but just made my 1st ornament out of pine and like you said it carves nice. I make a lot of utensils and such over the last few years out of hardwoods like walnut,cherry,maple and beech mainly done with the bandsaw and power sanding. Walnut cost the most but it takes less time per spatula to make so that’s what I’ve been liking the most and beech is way at the bottom as like you said before if I think I want to use beech I’ll hit myself in the forehead till I change my mind lol. Love the series your making as I want to keep learning.
I'm from Scotland and I am looking forward to starting wood carving . Your videos are just great 😃
I live in Illinois and I mostly use Basswood . I recently bought some alder for 3.50 a board ft it carves really nice I think they call it the poor man's cherry! oh yeah thanks Doug your my favorite carving. you tuber!
Brian Tschudy ...that is good to know. Alder is pretty easy to find.
Brian Tschudy: I am from East Central Illinois and would like to know where you buy Basswood ? a nubie and very old :-(
@@victorcastle1840 Kunz carpentry warehouse in Trenton Il
Brain Thanks, trouble is that is 120 mile South West of me, mainly West. 20 years ago,before this Agent Orange problem got so bad, that was no problem. I actually got my two F150's truck beds sprayed with Line-X bedliner not far from there. It wasn't cheap, but great stuff.
Third video down today, lol, enjoying the series. I love reading through the comments too. I'm gonna practice on found wood for now and keep the hobby as cheap as possible. We have cottonwood, lilac, scrub oak and pine. I'm interested in spoons and useful things to start. Maybe some hair combs and hair sticks to start too. Thanks
Hi, Doug et al, I am from the UK and getting basswood through Amazon is possible. I also have some UK lime but it is a lot harder to cut. To get a bulk delivery of wood at a better price I went to my local lumber yard and bought planed pine inch and half by inch and a half. It is red pine and is close-grained but cuts OK as a suitable UK alternative. I have also bought Chinese balsa wood posing as Bassa wood from Amazon and it cuts beautifully. You can get some great detail too. The balsa wood is soft but if you saw it in any way use a breathing mask or extraction. The dust is a bad irritant. Keep up the good work Doug. You inspired me to have a go and I am hooked.
Basswood, lime, linden are all from the same genus (tilia) and are largely interchangeable. Lime is the long time favourite for woodcarving in the UK, much of the fine work you see in cathedrals etc is lime.
@@steveogden5774 Thank you for your reply. I always believe the Basswood in the US/Canada is a superior product to our UK lime. By that, I mean softer, smoother to cut and a lot fewer knots and blemishes.
Hi Doug. I live in San Antonio,TX. I use basswood, sugar pine when I can get it, and tup gum wood from Louisiana. I carve decoys and birds of prey. Regards. Chip
Thanks Doug, nice easy to follow series and you're careful when saying what works for you that you leave room for the views of others...well done!
Here in Southern Oregon we have White Pine that carves very nicely, soft but also the grain resists splitting away like cedar. Red Alder also works fine, just a bit harder.
Also, Ponderosa Pine works very well for master cane carver Mike Stinnett over at Stinnett Sticks on YT.
Doug you got me hooked, am currently recovering from an accident and my sister found a knife for wood carving for me as a Xmas gift so far I've made the owl and the hillbilly from your videos you make it so easy don't know why I didn't do this 40 years ago .. oh yeh no internet lol
Loving the series. You are going through all the things I have wondered about. I have been thinking about getting into carving as it is something I have always wanted to try. I knew about the woods you use since I have been watching your videos for a long while now. However, it was really nice how you went through a few types and what they are like. Now to just get me some tools and some wood and give it a try.
Gabe, I am an old woodworker and, like you, starting to learn to carve, sitting in a rocking chair next to the wife who is knitting. As a woodworker, I learned that it is best to start with a minimum. Get a single, inexpensive carving knife and a piece of soft wood. In process, you will perhaps discover the need for another, different tool. I think it a mistake to buy relatively expensive tool sets since, normally, you will end up using only use a few anyway and the rest are just clutter. Purchase of one inexpensive tool at a time because of need and you will avoid tools you paid for but never use. Simplicity.
@@ericdussell7421
I've been watching this Doug fella for most of the winter. I think he has special knives that make carving simple. I've tried a couple of 4 inch carvings, a native man in a blanket and a 4 inch little man with his hands in his pockets. It's only after you start carving that you realize the skill that Doug has. He certainly makes it look easy.
These videos on different woods, stroping and different tricks to add shadows to make carvings just a bit more refined are great.
It'll take some time but I'm going to try to train my knives a little more than they are now.
Ditto. Yup‼ G-G (🪶) 😁
I needed this video, because all i have is 2 chisels and wood that i power through and i thought it would be a good idea to take it easy and work smarter not harder because theres a lot smarter men out there like me. I appreciate again brother, stay blessed!!
My favorite wood to carve is maple very satisfying but harsh, it's everywhere but I switch to bass once my hands had enough lol . Thanks for your videos you . I watched 4 or 5 of your videos, now I carve everychance I get, thanks agin peace an love.
My father-in-law more than 50 years ago milled acre's of family property in West Virginia. I'm the recipient of many pallets of black walnut, cherry, oak's, tulip & poplar. Many others, so I carve the popular! It's my favorite.
Over here in the UK we have a reasonable selection, I am just in the process of beginning to carve so as yet have not got a favourite, that is why posts like this one Doug are informative and useful. I have a friend who is a tree surgeon and I usually ask him what he has been cutting lately and take my pick from him.
Alan Scott I'm in UK too and I use lime which I think is as near as you'll get to basswood and it's great to carve. I get it from a place in penrith !! If you interested let me know and give you there details 👍
@@trevsutton8185 Hi I am new into carving, also live in U.K Do you have a link for the lime supplier? Thanks Alan H
Trev Sutton I’m in the north east so yes please Trev
Alan Hurley it's a company called G& S specialist timber.There at stainton in penrith postcode isCA110ES website is www.toolsandtimber.co.uk they do allsorts , worth a look , good luck 👍
Here in SW Montana, local carving woods are Aspen, Alder and young poplar. I can harvest as much as I could ever need on USFS lands.
Thanks for the video, Doug. I've always said you're a great teacher & going through the basics is going to help so many beginners. Heinecke Wood has the best basswood in the US. Always clean and tight grain.
Your a great teacher ... Thanks for explaining and talk of all carving wood... Plus the tools for using. 👍
Redwood from the North Coast.
I like to carve Walking Sticks.
That is how I got started.👍
Doug, i agree 100% i got the bright idea to do a carving using florida oak, i now have 7 stiches in my thumb, lol.😀
I've been tinkering with the idea of buying a couple good carving knives, quality sharpening stones, making a strop, etc and starting. I wish I could just try it with one of my pocket knives but I'm no genius knife sharpener yet. I can sharpen chisels and my hatchet scary sharp though. Anyway, the point of this comment is to say that basswood was $8.99 for a relatively small piece at Menards (2"x4"x8") and I walked. LOL I enjoy your videos and am artistic so there's still hope for me to try it. Keep up the great work, Doug!
Robert Emerson - Wow..they must have had it marked incorrectly. Bell Forest Products has 2”x2”x12” inch basswood blanks for $3.00. Check out WoodCraft or Rockler or Cooks Woods too. Our Hobby Lobby carries a good supply of small blocks that are perfect for many of Doug’s carvings (like last years Snowman).
Hay Doug, I’m originally from the UK, but now live in northern Germany. I’m surrounded by huge forests full of oak. Basswood is my preferred wood for hand carving. I also carve with a chainsaw using oak, pine and ash as these are readily available to me on the door step. I can’t find anywhere near me that sells basswood. I have to buy it off Amazon. Love your videos Doug, very interesting and inspirational. Thanks Al.
Very educational, Doug! Love watching your video's! Keep up the good work.
am from the UK and also use pine and carved a cat for my Christmas tree, I just stared the hobby. Great videos it helps me alot, thank you. 🐈
I’m from Australia, I haven’t found any truly soft woods that carve well. I usually carve green native cherry.
I'm from Austtalia too and wanted to start getting into carving.... I'm wondering is there any pine or something I can get from Bunnings or do I need to find a more timber specialist.
I haven't tried it yet but I've heard that our closest equivalent to Basswood is Jelutong
Carbatec sell Bass wood, also if you're from Perth the wood school sell it aswell and Pops shed in Melbourne. The only thing I've found is that they are all expensive unfortunately..
Hi there. I'm from Melbourne and yea, same. Haven't been able to find something appropriate. I've tried carving pine wood sourced from local bunnings but it is difficult and pretty hard. All they sell is construction wood, which i believe is hardened. Tried talking to local arts and crafts shop. Got recommendation for Balsa Wood. Please do not fell for it. It's shit. Waste of money and Time.
@@feedzzzzz Look on Etsy for Jelutong. There is an Aussie seller that has free shipping and its a little cheaper than basswood
10pm just finished the video and scrolling through the comments when I just noticed the straight grained very well seasoned Scots pine I brought in for tomorrow’s stove kindling. Also remembered the Swiss army hiker with the 1 1/2” blade on my belt. 🤔
The wife is gonna kill me in the morning when she sees all the wood shavings. 😮 Hell who wants to live for ever anyway? 😄. Keep the great videos coming.👍🏴
From the USA. Great video, as usual, Doug. You are an inspiration to everyone from beginners to seasoned carvers. Thank you for that. I love cottonwood bark, but I also carve basswood, butternut, pine etc. I was given in trade a very large piece of mahogany that was like a tabletop size. I carved a beautiful eagle out of that piece. I also had a friend of mine make a memory box out of part of it. I carved memories in the box sides for my granddaughter of her and her father. We lost my son to suicide 9 years ago and I wanted something for her to keep memories of her father in. It turned out beautiful. I still have plenty of that piece left. Keep inspiring and teaching, I learn a lot from you.
Hi Doug, as you recommended in your video I told you which kind of wood I prefer to carve. I'm from Italy and it is quite difficult to find different kind of wood in our bricoshops. Usually it is easy to find pine or fir. But like you I prefer to carve basswood that I order to Amazon (chipper) or in Trentino Alto Adige (costy). Please continue with your didactic video about carve. Many thanks for your fantastic work and teaching that is very helpful. Luigi (Covo) Bergamo - Italy
I'm at the top of Vancouver Island in the Pacific Northwest. I've been using yellow cedar which carves like a dream, much less likely to tear and chip than red cedar.
Hey man, beginner from Nanaimo here, where can I get yellow cedar? Thx
@@Lzz79326 I get it from a local mill owner as scraps from the processing. You get alot of junk pieces but pay next to nothing. I would call around and if no scraps, try find a rough cut 2x2.
Thank you Doug. I love Cedar. I live in Washington state. I don't carve but I do paint using watercolor on cedar leftovers. It is the King of all trees so maybe that is why I love it so much.🍁💗🌹❤
I bought a block of linden here about 6 times the amount of that one stick of bass wood you showed here in Switzerland 21 Franks a frank is the same as a US dollar.I have only seen it to buy at one place here. But Yes carves great. I started with pine but hard to get nice grained pine here.
Doug, all of your videos are so excellent, thanks! .....I guess I'm 'one of the guys'...LOL!!! PS....I'm a wood turner from Kentucky, USA and my favorite wood is Holly. I adore it.
Thank you for this, Doug. Bass wood it is, then (probably easiest on the arthritis that is starting in my hands). Adding that to my Christmas wish list. :-) Looking forward to the safety video (already have safety gloves on my list).
Thank you, Doug! This really helps me getting started. Can't wait! Greetings from Germany!
I’m in New York, I like basswood first that I order from E bay . I also use poplar and pine , cedar that I can get out in my woods. I have tried apple and oak to hard for me to use to carve but did make nice wooden mallets. Tried maple but keep breaking out the nose or some other spots so don’t use anymore
I have over 500 pieces of poplar 1.5 x 1.5 x 4" or 1.5 x 1.5 x 9" from a stair installation shop. Free to me. Cannot wait to get started with carving! Great series! New Sub here.
Add: around here (home depot) stores have bins with "free cut-offs". I might have a look in these for the reason to cave... :D
Well isn't that just fantastic ! Wish I had that here, actually maybe I do, but I'll have to look pretty hard.
Really? Well I'll be damned but I never saw any of those bins :/ it's actually my local pizzeria that does this lol. They have a brick oven and use wood for fire and sometimes they get small basswood mixed in and I usually go and ask them at the end of the day. Other than that, amazon and collecting fallen branches from forests...
@@CaptainPupu Man that's cool, I'd never have the confidence to ask a shop for anything.
@@corruptedteka I wouldn't either. I just know the owner personally that's why.
@@CaptainPupu Lucky you- But even then I don't think I would, I mean I don't even talk to my irl friends as it is.
Love these videos. They’ve inspired me to pick my knife up and carve. People are fascinated by the hobby and love to ask me questions when they see me doing it. Rockler and Hobby Lobby are my favorite places to go get Basswood here in St. Louis. Will try the trim section of Home Depot for pine. I carve try-sticks from green tulip and willow when I don’t have my carving kit with me. Keeps me busy and engaged. Plan to try your wood spirit in a section of cedar when I’m out camping.
Hey Doug! I love your videos and your channel. You are such an honest, friendly guy. Thank you for your awesome service to the carving world.
I too am in Canada (Vancouver Island). Where do you get basswood from, may I ask? Cheers!
If you have Lee Valley or Hobby Wholesale you can pick it up, or you can order from them to get it shipped.
I picked up a 4/4 basswood board from Windsor Plywood in Central Saanich yesterday.@@hamaarahof5712
Hi Doug I am from the great state of maine . Been carving for 22 years . It’s my winter hobby . I share your opinion s on wood an basswood pine and cedar are my favorites and butternut for hardwood s. Some basswood can be hard as a rock. I throw those in the stove.
Most of my carving now are Christmas ornaments for the grandkids. Great videos
I just ordered a carving knife :) Windsor, Ontario
Will be taking a walk in the woods behind my house looking for some basswood.
I’m a noobie at this, so thanks for a good grounding of knowledge to get started. Silver birch, pine and rhoddies are in abundance where I live on the west coast of Scotland. So thanks for taking the time to make the vid.
Hi Doug, I carved waterfowl years ago & used Tupelo a number of times. I am able to find it in Burlington Exotic Woods... a shop to check out for sure. Great video again Sir!
Hi Doug Chris here from northern Louisiana, I'm a fairly new Carver (I've always whittled a little) but now working on developing it into a craft with furniture/architecture. Bass wood is phenomenal but pine is the biggest abundance around here along with cedar and cypress both easy when wet but can be a challenge when dry. Really looking forward to future videos. Thanks for the schooling!
I live in Tennessee. My favorite wood is basswood, but I am currently carving a wizard/santa on a 1" pine stick. I order my wood from Heinecke Brothers.
Hilda Hickey ...where are they located?
Hi Doug, also Canada, but the other side (out west). Very new to this and it has sort of become my physio exercise for my hands, as well as settle the mind. Learning bushcraft and started collecting kinves. Leaning the new steals and sharpening. Which than let me into whittling, lol. We have our own poplar, spruce and willow. But right now prefer the Basswood (Linden). I seen your video on buying a bigger block and cutting it up. So looking into the right used saw to process the blocks, to make it affordable. And thanks for the encouragement of just keep going and practicing. Thought with nerves dying and losing strength I can not do it. But learning to keep knives sharp goes a long way to compensate. I can not stand or walk much anymore, particular in heat. So if I am forced to sit, it is great to keep busy and show something at the end. Love all your dogs too! Thank you and all the best from Alberta ;0
I am from Germany, just started because of your videos. I finished my first wizard and it was nice to see what comes out of a block of wood and a bit of imagination. And bought my first helvie knife :)
Started with basswood which I ordered online. The actual piece is a bit hard to carve but that's how it is.
Next time I will have a look for the wood from the sawmill.
Continue with your great work and stay healty!
Cheers!
@Niklas Kleine hello from Colorado.
I also bought online bass wood and struggled with how hard it was.
The Helvie knife looks a bit thinner than every other knife I have found and I imagine the this makes a lot of difference on easy the knife cuts through the wood. (My knifes - no matter how sharp it is - never goes through the bass wood like Doug’s knife. But the Helvie knifes are impossible to buy now at reasonable prices so I just have to cut thinner/smaller pieces off.
Good luck! There are better basswoods out there.
I'm from the east slope of the Cascades in WA state. I have only done a handful of carvings all based on you tutorials. I used Aspen which grows right on my property. It seemed to work really well!
I learned from a woodcarver from Persia to use Kerosene when my carving wood is dry. It almost seems like it replaces the oil in the wood. I lived in the desert and even Basswood could be hard and dry. I was taught to brush the Kerosine on the day before. The smell evaporates in time. I found alcohol and water evaporated too quick. Kerosine can also be used to clean your carving.
thank you Doug
Ryan Peavey
that’s not Doug. Pay attention to people’s names.
Miles Wasil I will do so! Thanks for your input, Doug!!!
Ryan Peavey
you are very welcome, Doug
Miles Wasil 😆 cheers!
Thanks Doug! I am new to this. Caught your first Livestream the other night. Thanks for that also! I can go through your back catalog and get many of the questions I have , answered.
Hi,Doug,Love the hooded jersey.I have seen you wearing one before and asked my daughter to do one for me as she dabbles in doing tee shirts ect.Alas she got it wrong and instead of printing i carve she printed i crave.So now everyone keeps asking what am i craving for.It gets embarrasing
Wear "I Crave" with pride"! That's a cool shirt.
Everyone: "So, what do you crave?"
You, "What do you have?"
@@bobsullivan5714 The only thing i crave is to carve like Doug.Cheers Bob
Think maybe. I crave carving , the hard wood.,but at this age 🤔 it's the basswood I crave. 😎 Good luck. Hahaha👍🏼✌️😎
Just what I wanted to see, I have some logs of poplar and glad to see it looks easy to carve - after asking tree surgeons for a piece of branch from a lime tree being cut down round the corner - over three days it took - and they didn't leave me a crumb! Thanks for demo!
Southeast Alabama and have greatly available, pine and buy bass wood.
Hi Dough: I've been carving off and on for a bunch of years. I hadn't carved for a couple of years now, until I found you through Joe Robinet . (miss you two together) Most of my experience is with Bass Wood. I guess it is my favorite. I have a friend that is a master and he carves only Tupelo. I found a Lumber yard in Central Florida Triton Lumber when I was carving a lot, that sells a variety of woods. They had a bunch of 2 1/2"X6"X30" Bass wood. I bought three at $24.00 each. Right now I am carving a Cedar walking stick. It is definitely not my favorite. I trimmed it off a back yard tree a few years ago and it sat in my shop till now. Maybe I should have carved it when it was wet. Liked this video a lot. Thanks Doug.
Here in europe (Netherlands) we use basswood too, actually similar prices that you are paying.
Where can i buy this basswood?
Wat is Basswood in het Nederlands?
@@roar40s volgens mij Lindehout
@@roar40s volgens mij Lindehout
@@roar40s volgens mij Lindehout
Here in Northeastern Pennsylvania USA there is hardwood galore Red and White Oak, Maple, Cherry which my backyard is full of, and ash which
Is slowely dying off because of a beetle infestation... We do have pine which is prolific... I’ve found carving and turning green then suppressing
Drying to as slow as possible seems to be the easiest... Thanks for the great videos and channel Doug !
I have uploaded some carvings to my channel I try to carve realistic faces so it takes me 24 hours or more to carve but that's because I'm still learning also.
The perfect fall background... sparse leaves on the tree, yellow w/some red and brown on the ground, brisky fall air, slight wind, nice day. Yup, it's fall... That said, these are my favorite woods for carving using edged tools within 4 years of seasoning and curing.
1. Sycamore - plentiful and very accessible in my region. Carves sludgy like poplar but softer and easier on the tools when making controlled cuts. Slight chippy grain, but absolutely love the handling and the sharpness like a dense basswood. I've carved wood spirits, indian carvings, bush tools, netting shuttles, reliefs, caricatures, ornaments, etc when using this wood.
2. Eastern red cedar - common and somewhat accessible in my region. Carves sludgy when new, but just as pleasant when dry. Some splintering when roughing out, care must be exercised. Great smelling carve when new. 10 woods and experience with them.
3. Radiata Pine - Not found where i live, but can be had at home improvement stores and fairly inexpensive (regarded as 'select' pine) . Very pleasant wood to carve where quick planal carving is concerned, cuts a slight bit sludgy(great for controlled cuts). Great for sign making on a budget.
4. Poplar - very accessible as 'Tulip Poplar' in my region but can be had at home improvement stores reasonably priced (the type sold at stores is known as 'Yellow Poplar'(considered a magnolia)) Carves great and handles nicely, somewhat grainy even teary when cutting with the grain.
5. Basswood/Linden - plentiful and very accessible in my region. Can be had at the art stores in blocks.(There are 2 species native to North America- Carolina Bass Wood and American Bass Wood.) Carves like poplar has a nice card board sludgy feel. Great when carving cross grain slightly chippy when dry. The appeal is in the cross grain cut. Considered the standard for wood carvers everywhere.
6. Mulberry wood - plentiful and very accessible in my region.(grows wild) When newly cut (w/ cambium left on) Carves like new cedar. Has a sludgy feel when carving which i find excellent when making controlled cuts. Has a paper patchy feel and at times very stringy grain but i have made some real beauties while carving with this wood! Holds detail like a champ. Maybe 2nd to Sycamore.
7. Sassafras - common and somewhat accessible in my region. Carves very nice when seasoned properly
8. Soft Maple - plentiful and very accessible in my region. Carves really nice especially when the utmost detail is concerned. Absolute go to when making walking sticks.
9. Walnut - common and somewhat accessible in my region. Carves like cottonwood bark but yet controllable although dense. Oak grain like feel with minimal splintering, slight chippy with grain. Beautiful bare finish. Darkens over time (like Cherry)
10. Aspen - Not found where i live although can be had at home improvement stores and inexpensive. Carves like well seasoned pine, but softer. Best where quick planal carvings are concerned. Great for ornaments and wood spirits.
Honorable mentions - Tupelo, Cottonwood, Cherry, rhododendron, birch
Thanks for your listing....do you work with Willow as well ??
Basswood is Lindetre in Nowegian. :-)
Bass wood is lime wood in the UK
basswood is basswood in English
Well then, I'll add my two cents: basswood is TIGLIO in Italian. I think it is pretty common here.
Hi Doug, great videos. I’m in Ireland and I like to watch anything handcrafted and came across this quite by accident. I’ve never carved anything in my life but I cast and hand paint figurines. May take up carving after watching this.
Hardwoods give me thumb blisters so does liking your videos haha 😂
haha your knife must be blunt .
@@gerardpickett5108 no I strop, and carve quite alot, videos on my channel I'm a beginner.
😂
I can't beleive such a simple comment got 41 likes haha 😂
How about your index finger? ;p
Thanks for all these video's Doug, I am beginning to feel like your apprentice... Going through these tutorials 👍 I live in England, on the edge of Haworth moors, so I sit and whittle on the moor with my dogs, I just used bits I would pick up from the woods, and mess until now. I buy Basswood online at the moment, I am happy with that, I do think I need to upgrade my knives now, I am beginning to understand it more. I am currently trying to work out how to whittle a spoon with one of your owls in the handle, for my daughter, her favorite animal.
I have no interest in carving but I keep watching this series. Anyone else doing this?
I didn't have any interest with carving....saw Doug on Joe's Robinets channel...checked out Doug's channel and I'm hooked. Love his carvings and I want to get into carving now....
Nice video Doug! So many different kind of the woods you can carve!👍
When are u going wit your buddy on a camping trip fishing miss that
Hi doug I am very new to the point of my knifes and 5 peaces of basswood arrived today an I am so excited to try this as you can literally go anywhere as long as you have your knife ect your set I live in the UK 🇬🇧 and for 20 4inch long by 1inch wide basswood is £20 for 20 peaces, eventually ide like to have a go at using sticks off a tree ect it's cheeper, have a good day xxhelenxx
Thanks Doug,
I am from Bahrain (Arabian Gulf)
And I find it difficult to fine the type of wood you mention in the video
But I will try and ones I get I will inform you
Thanks again
Lots of good stuff in this video Doug. I have loads of wood here in Kentucky. Some works ok some need a machine to work it in any way. I order some interesting woods from a company called woodcraft to see how they will work. It might be an option for people looking to try something more exotic than what they can get local. I have about a dozen sawmills within an hour's drive. they have lots of cutoffs for cheap or free after you get to know the people there. It's always surprising what you can find close by when you start looking.
It isn't very easy to carve, but I really like the results I get with hedge.
Also known as osage orange, or bow tree.
Thank you for your time!!!
Well now I want to see a video with carving an egg.
I was thinking about that. Probably done using a lathe. Should be accomplished pretty quickly. Need to sand ends to remove stubs holding the wood blank in the lathe. Cheap to just buy basswood eggs.
@@dwallich56 what I meant him carving on an egg. Sorry I didnt make that clearer. Haha
Glad you touched on greenwood carving. One thing you can do is split the green branches/logs to remove any of the pith (center part) and rough them down to size with a hatchet. Then wrap them in plastic and throw them in the back of a freezer. This will keep them "green" so you can take one out when you're ready to carve. I have a small stock from walks in the woods behind my house looking for broken limbs and blow downs.
I'm only into cups and spoons at the moment. Maple is plentiful around me and just makes the most lovely finished products when dried, but it's still a bit tough to carve green and man it hardens up fast while you're carving - even after just a day or two. Yellow birch is nice, and smells delicious as you carve it. I just came across some Beech which also carves nice. I'd put it somewhere between maple and birch for hardness and ease of carving.
I've carved signs from pine and never liked the way it splinters. And it can be a little messy with the pitch. Good to know that cedar is one to try. I do have some cedar drying in the shed but I think what we call cedar around here is actually juniper (aromatic or eastern red cedar). I'm not sure it's as good to carve.
Thanks Doug(:
Hey Doug I just found your channel while searching for wood carving videos as I’m new to carving videos. I watched 1 video & immediately subscribed to you bc it seems like you have every sort of video that I need being new to the hobby!!
Michaels craft store sells blocks of basswood
Not the cheapest, but certainly one of the most convenient sources. Other big box hobby stores such as Hobby Lobby also sell Basswood blocks.
wow😲😲
My knife should arrive today.....can’t wait to start a project while following your videos. Thanks for all your help!! Liking what we watch from KY
love the videos, live in central states usa. i get my wood from new jersey. white cedar. try, it is the best cedar of the cedars. the smell is sweet and carves like a dream. this cedar is much different than main or southern states cedar. the cost is averaged around 2.50 and 3.50 a board foot. usa.
I would be interested in the name of your suppliers for white cedar at that price.
@@mikewells2191 hello mike, his name is spike wells, 888 rt 206, shamong, nj, 08088, phone is 609 284 1025. just tell him what you are looking for, size and he will set you up. this guy is not cityfied so to speak, lol. he is a limber jack so be kind, lol. tell him the guy from missouri who bought a lot of wood sent ya. may help, good luck call him spike.
@@Sleddman thank you so much!
I'm new to carving. I started last winter thanks to your christmas tree and Snowman videos. Thanks for your time and efforts. I'm from St. Louis and have to order my wood.