Whittling/carving wood and where can i buy it ? Please Help

[true_scotsman]

Hi guys,

I'm new to the forum and to wood whittling/carving but i do have a background in stone and clay sculpture. Im looking at buying some wood to hand carve but im finding it difficult to locate an easy to hand carve wood anywhere that would sell it to me in blocks. I'm looking at basswood and butternut but obviously their both rare to find, does anyone have any other ideas on types of wood and also where it can be bought, like a art and craft shops as well as timber yards.

Andy

 

[robin wood]

It sounds like you have been reading up on carving on US sites, basswood is what they call lime and butternut is I believe one their many trees related to horse chestnut (though not so sure about that one)

Lime is great if you can get it but in Scotland you may be best looking for willow, alder or birch. Try to get a largish tree and split it down to quarters then you can carve green wood and it won't split.

Talk to your local tree surgeons/parks management teams/foresters.

edit butternut is apparently a relative of walnut http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juglans_cinerea

 

[Wayland]

Your best bet is on-line.

Search for carving supplies / wood and the like and a few options come up.

 

[Hoodoo]

I think Carving Magazine is a UK publication. They have a forum here. Might be a good place to find a UK wood source.

 

[TomBartlett]

Depending on how much you want, you could offer pruning services free of charge, including the removal of the 'waste' material.

 

[senex]

I buy my limewood from a local sawmill. That maybe the best bet, its certainly the cheapest. The stuff I buy is green a square meter delivered in 2" slabs, £75.

 

[TREETOP]

Hi guys,

I'm new to the forum and to wood whittling/carving but i do have a background in stone and clay sculpture. Im looking at buying some wood to hand carve but im finding it difficult to locate an easy to hand carve wood anywhere that would sell it to me in blocks. I'm looking at basswood and butternut but obviously their both rare to find, does anyone have any other ideas on types of wood and also where it can be bought, like a art and craft shops as well as timber yards.

Andy

I've used these in the past and been very happy with their service loads of different woods and tools to chose from
http://www.ockenden-timber.co.uk/
Hope this helps

 

[mrcharly]

John Boddys do all sorts of woods. If you are in the north, they are worth a visit. Have a nice warehouse full of offcuts of every wood imaginable.

http://www.john-boddy-timber.ltd.uk/

 

[Ian S]

If you want fresh wood (as most of us do), you have a number of sources:

Local tree surgeons are worth keeping an eye out for.

Local community woodlands might have something (http://www.deag.org.uk/)

 

[woodspirits]

hi andy

be usefull to know what size piece of wood you are looking for, whats your project?. yes lime is lovely to carve but almost any wood will do if your just starting out, and its all around us! try approaching a local farmer too, theyre often felling, pruning or tidying their land. recent windfall of live wood is a good source too, put a laplander or whatever in your pack next time you go for a walk

steve

 

[Martyn]

These people are in Derbyshire, well worth a visit (though mebbe not from Falkirk) and they have a fantastic wood shed, loads of exotics....

http://www.craft-supplies.co.uk/

 

[JAG009]

Try here not to far from you

Gilmour & Aitken Ltd
Milton Sawmill,Auchincarroch Rd,Jamestown,Alexandria,Dunbartonshire,G83 9EY

Address: Milton Sawmill,Auchincarroch Rd,Jamestown,Alexandria,Dunbartonshire,G83 9EY
Telephone: 01389 752333
Web Site:
Email:

Classification

Timber Importers & Agents

Jason

 

[mr dazzler]

I'd recomend the tree surgeon route. They very often have more stuff than they can deal with, a lot ends up chippered. Last week I got an entire Willow tree (about 3 tons total) for next to nothing, crosscut and delivered to my yard. The good thing with having a large stock to hand is that you dont get under pressure and precious about ruining a "good" (and expensive) piece of material. Lime is very nice to work, as is alder and sycamore. Large hazel is nice too. Many hazel coppices are now neglected and are massive and over grown. I saw a hazel stool last year with poles that were easily a foot diameter. Any way, whatever you decide to do, good luck with your projects.

 

[Halfdevil333]

Try here not to far from you

Gilmour & Aitken Ltd
Milton Sawmill,Auchincarroch Rd,Jamestown,Alexandria,Dunbartonshire,G83 9EY

Address: Milton Sawmill,Auchincarroch Rd,Jamestown,Alexandria,Dunbartonshire,G83 9EY
Telephone: 01389 752333
Web Site:
Email:

Classification

Timber Importers & Agents

Jason

I live next to this sawmill and i have never even thought about going in to see what they have.....Will do now

 

[Cordhound]

Sydenham's do hard woods if you want things like Sepia or Oak, they can also source many other woods. Alternatively there is loads of Ash all over, that I'm sure land owners won't mind you asking for?
I too like a bit of a whittle, good luck..


Cordhound