Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:03:47 -0800 (PST)
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Sculpting Pine Wood?


Mathieu, one of the best wood for carving is linden. It doesn't scratch nor dents=A0easily. I=A0was told that the=A0puppets/marionettes in our Romanian puppet theater were carved from linden. It was amazing to see puppet heads, hands or shoes=A0looking like new after being used for at least 500 shows. I haven't used it yet,=A0since I had cedar and pine around for free (when living in Queen Charlotte Islands, BC). 
About balsa, I only looked and touched it, never=A0carved it.=A0Let us know how the pine wood worked for you.

--- On Sun, 12/21/08, 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: Sunday, December 21, 2008, 11:20 PM

Thanks for your input, Carolina.

Yes,  Pine has long fibers. I find it requires a lot of filing and sanding, 
but when done properly, the grain shows beautifully, especially at the tips 
of dowels.

The three main reasons why I'm still using pine (for controllers, some
rough 
body parts, and bases) are:

-economical: I already have the leftover pieces, I can get more for cheap.

-ecological: re-using something that would otherwise be burned or trashed.

-Flexible: I try to adapt to whatever material I already have on hand, or 
can get easily. I do not want to be a "slave" to a material I would
have to 
import every time I need it. Delays on delivery can put a deadlined project 
in danger, as well. Once is enough for me, thank you!
 (I found out the hard way how Apoxie Sculpt was inappropriate for making a 
very small marionette head and hands, the head cast in molds: too heavy, too 
brittle(fingers), very hard to paint.)


Balsa to me seems like THE wood to avoid for making wooden puppets.
It's so easy to dent, scratch and break.
Then again, it could be used (instead of styrofoam) and covered in paper 
mache, if it didn't cost so much.



      
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