Best Hardwood for Carving

[paulkane1]

I hope to start to turn some large platters,and,I would like to embellish with some carving ,along the rim,some Celtic Designs etc.What is the easiest wood to carve? All help appreciated.

Paul

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Lime.

 

[thick_mike]

What he said ^^^^

 

[Dalboy]

Another factor is how detailed the carving is. the more detailed the closed grain wood is needed. You can carve most woods as long as the chisels are razor sharp, just keep them well honed. But as stated Lime is a good wood but lack grain detail for the rest of the turning

 

[MikeG.]

Other than lime, walnut.

I saw a 600 year old carved walnut panel last week which looked as though it had just been made. So "easy to carve" does not equal "vulnerable".

 

[Lons]

As the others said, most woods, don't overlook oak which takes nice detail.
Walnut is lovely to carve, here's one of my still unfinished carvings in walnut which will have plenty of crisp detail if I ever get around to completing it.

Bob

 

[woodfarmer]

Alder and most fruit woods.