Best woods for scrolling?

[thedax]

Hi guys what are your suggestions for wood types please.

 

[Walney Col]

Hawthorn is the nicest stuff I've ever cut. You get a high gloss finish on the cut edge even with an aggressive blade, no tearout, really (really) tight grain which doesn't demand you follow it, and a delightful aroma of popcorn as it cuts.

Col.

 

[bodgerbaz]

A lot depends upon the end result and what you are cutting.

If it's painted bunnies for Easter then cheap pine would be fine but if you want to cut a portrait or make a clock then a nice tight grained hardwood like oak would be good.

I made a set of Shelia Landry plaques for my daughter-in-law out of 3mm oak faced plywood.

 

[PeteG]

They're very fine cuts Barry, really nice

 

[Chippygeoff]

As barry said, it depends on what you are going to make, there is a best wood for every project. If you are making Christmas decorations then the best wood is birch plywood, if you are making plaques then hardwoods are the best woods to use. If you are making things to paint then anything will do the job. I have posted a plaque I made for a customer, made from hardwood, it would have been awful had I made it in plywood or pine.

 

[thedax]

cheers guys, Nice work! I like the oak faced face Ply.

 

[bodgerbaz]

They're very fine cuts Barry, really nice

Thanks Pete, much appreciated.

My first attempt at cutting words and it was more difficult than I thought it would be. Tear-out is a major problem and several of the letters could only be cut in one direction.

 

[bodgerbaz]

Nice plaque Geoff and good answer.