I live in Western Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley and am looking for some wood to carve decoys. I don't mind buying stock and air drying it. Does anybody have any suggested sources in my area for decent white pine, sugar pine, etc?
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I live in Western Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley and am looking for some wood to carve decoys. I don't mind buying stock and air drying it. Does anybody have any suggested sources in my area for decent white pine, sugar pine, etc?
Hi Ken,
I don't know of anyone in your specific area. Besides the usual "google" for mills etc. in your area you can always order blocks online such as from this place.
http://www.heineckewood.com/
I know many carvers have good results with their wood.
You can buy the wood and try to air dry it ,,the usual rate is 1" of wood for one year, but you have to consider just how dry you can get it, stabilize it, keep the temp constant to get it dry,etc. and this is assuming you're not trying to dry a one piece block where it most likely won't work.
I would say your best results over the long term, considering the work you'll put into the carving itself will come from kiln dried wood. Otherwise either after or as you are carving your next post will be " how do I stop this thing from cracking?"
If you're going the traditional route of chisels and knives, Bass as well as Sugar pine has always been popular, but really , depending on the style, most any wood can be used. If you have seen the "World Class" type highly decorative decoys they are pretty much done exclusively with Tupelo. It carves terribly, but responds perfectly to power carving. I've done dozens of them over the years.
Hope this helps.
Mark
Ken,
I also live close but not close enough to know a good lumber seller in your area - but keep a regular eye on craiglist, especially the "free" section; a lot of people will give away wood from trees they have had downed. Many already have had it cut into stovelengths, which is about right for decoys - you just have to figure out what kind of wood it is and get it dried out. Don't overlook cedar in your search - many Chesapeake decoy makers swore by it (apparently the Ward brothers had a ready supply of it from telephone pole cutoffs).
Good luck, don't forget to share some decoy pics with us when you can
Karl
I can send you a chunk of paulownia if interested. I enjoy using it. Tony
What is paulownia? Never heard of it. Thanks for your response.Quote:
Originally Posted by Anthony Albano