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I took just about every workshop about carving at the mars meet. When I got home I realized I didnt know where to buy sign blanks to carve with the exception of allwood western red cedar. Franscis Lestingi who taught some of the workshops did everything in african mahogany and his portfolio was awesome. Im excited to get started if someone could tell me a supplier (I live in PA). Id like to hear what everyone likes to carve also and where to get it thanx
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Why not gather up some HDU in 15 and 18 pound densities and practice on that. Then, move into the wood. If you want to start off in wood, basswood, sugar pine and tupelo is readily available in mailorder catalogs. Just don't start off in butternut or oak!!! Then, start having FUN !!!
-------------------- John Smith Kings Bay Signs (Retired) Kissimmee, Florida Posts: 822 | From: Central Florida - The Sunshine State | Registered: Jan 2000
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Rich, I believe if you contact the HDU suppliers who help sponsor this board, they will send you samples and which distributors in your area carry the stuff. Make Chips !
Joe, Makin Chips and Havin Fun!
-------------------- Joe Cieslowski Connecticut Woodcarvers Gallery P.O.Box 368 East Canaan CT 06024 jcieslowski@snet.net 860-824-0883 Posts: 2345 | From: East Canaan CT 06024 | Registered: Nov 2001
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Joe it seemed like none of you guys really liked carving hdu. and it seems like you need to know alot about pine to use it for exterior signs, I was thinking Mahogany would be best if I can Find a supplier. Your workshops were great by the way I learned a lot from them thanx
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Pick up a copy of "Fine Woodworking" (a monthly publication) available at most newstands and suppliers like Lowe's and Home Depot. In the classifieds at the back are ads for all types of wood suppliers. That should get you started. In our area there is a retail store called Paxton's Fine Woods, but I don't know how far they reach out from Texas.
Do a internet search and you will probably come up with more sources than you need.
If you have a planer you can buy the wood in rough form and plane it down to the size you need - it's cheaper that way.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Rich, I'm sorry if I left the wrong impression. My personal prefrence is Pinus Strobis, but if you want to make a lot of carved signs, without a lot of hassels, start and stay with the HDU, 18lb. The learning curve will be shorter and you won't have to worry about warping and the paint sticking etc. HDU has it's own shortcommings but the problems have been solved (just check the archives). I hope the Wood Gods don't get me for this ....in the end, this is a business...the shortest and surest way to profits is with the HDU. Make Chips!
Joe, Makin Chips and Havin Fun!
-------------------- Joe Cieslowski Connecticut Woodcarvers Gallery P.O.Box 368 East Canaan CT 06024 jcieslowski@snet.net 860-824-0883 Posts: 2345 | From: East Canaan CT 06024 | Registered: Nov 2001
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Richard, I had a friend who used to make plaques for taxidermists. He used all kinda exotic woods. There's a lumber yard near Corning....dont know if its in NY or PA... the name was something like...Cotton /Hanlin... He always said they were the biggest supplier around for hard to get item I havent carved a LOT of signs....the ones I did were wood... I spose I gotta git modern like Joe Chipps says....I still like the wood.
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John, Joe...Somebody? There is a pretty good supply of Spanish Cedar around here. The close grain aromatic stuff in planks. I'd like to give that a try. There is some cypress, but I'm afraid that will crack badly. I've been practicing with the sample of HDU, but I've got to admit it doesn't seem like I'm carving as much as cutting and shaping. I cut with different saws or knives then start shaping with a rasp and sandpaper. I tried the Dremel but I'll have to slow it down with a reostat, before I try it again.
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Santo, I've never had the oppertunity to work with Spanish Cedar....redwood is in the cedar family......what is it used for locally? Do folks use it to make outdoor furniture...or decks? Sometimes there are local woods that would be sucessfull for signs but most of my experience is based on the northern US woods....you may be sitting on a very sucessful local wood that matches the enviornment where you live....the answer is, I don't have an answer....check with a local university, agricultural station...... They may be able to answer questions on the suitability for use on signs.....best of luck......
Joe, Makin Chips and Havin Fun!
-------------------- Joe Cieslowski Connecticut Woodcarvers Gallery P.O.Box 368 East Canaan CT 06024 jcieslowski@snet.net 860-824-0883 Posts: 2345 | From: East Canaan CT 06024 | Registered: Nov 2001
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Joe, The Spanish Cedar is used locally for finishing interiors of marine vessels. It is also used on deck trim and such. I'm trying to remember the true name for it. It is very fine grain red to yellow in color. Take a look! Spanish Cedar
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It looks like it might be worth a try. The notes on machining seem to indicate that it's not too stringy. It also states that it is flat sawn. Thats the cheapest method of sawing and is ok if the boards are wide...12-14". Take a look at the stock in the yard and see if there is any cupping. If there is, note if the cup is located near the center of the growth rings...this is where it happens most often in pine. Saw away the center, plane and glue it together and you will have a quarter sawn blank! The cup side should still face the sunny side of the sign (dry side)! I would try it first on some small residential signs, house numbers etc. How's the price? Do you have a table saw and jointer? How about a thickness planner? You can get away without a thickness planner if you have a sharp fore plane...I did it that way until I started buying rough sawn lumber 2 years ago. I now have a 12" planner but still use the fore plane on larger blanks after they are glued up. This is the best I can suggest....not having worked the stuff myself. But is does sound like it is worth a try! Best of luck...keep me up to date on your experience.
Joe, Makin Chips and Havin Fun!
-------------------- Joe Cieslowski Connecticut Woodcarvers Gallery P.O.Box 368 East Canaan CT 06024 jcieslowski@snet.net 860-824-0883 Posts: 2345 | From: East Canaan CT 06024 | Registered: Nov 2001
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....in the end, this is a business...the shortest and surest way to profits is with the HDU. Make Chips! ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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