Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:09:50 -0500
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Sculpting Pine Wood or other woods?


L Lamborn: >>> Perhaps a Dremel (like) tool with various bits would  
help you and a very nice wood to carve is Basswood or Linden in North  
America (same wood), or Lime-UK it is lightweight, the wood grain is  
not at all a problem.
It is a wood carvers favorite.  White Pine is another easy to carve  
wood, the grain doesn't seem to be a problem.
----------------------
Bass wood comes from the Linden tree! Who knew!? Come to think of it  
I've never heard of a Bass tree.

Also, I love my Dremel (like) tool. Don't forget the coping saw for  
carving, too -- great for cutting curves, removing big chunks.

Thoughts on wood: I go for pine because it's light weight, easy to  
cut and carve, and takes glue marvelously. Pine seems to be sort of  
malleable. If you drop it it may take a dent but it usually won't break.

In our area (north america) western red cedar is even lighter than  
pine, marvelously stiff and musical (really), smells good, is  
beautiful, what's not to love?

It's funny about construction lumber (we call them two-bys) -- it's  
often spruce, which is prized for making masts, or even airplanes,  
where you need light weight strength and stiffness. But the grain in  
construction lumber is often coarse, so I usually just use a pine  
board which is a higher grade. If you need a thicker shape glue  
pieces together for bodies, legs, etc. If you need more length or  
width just glue some more on and file or plane it to shape. Use thin  
strips and make box structures or hollow shapes. Glued together wood  
shapes are extremely durable -- stronger than if you just use one piece.

One last thought, I think it's good to use cheap and available  
materials for making things like puppets. Going to the scrap box for  
interesting leftovers is a great way to work. If I am carving a  
special block that was ordered and anticipated, expensive, I may be  
too careful to get something wonderful. So Mathieu, I would recommend  
using rough construction wood for carving, or just about anything.

best,
Ed
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