How to Select the Best Wood for Making Wooden Gifts
This post will explain the construction of wood for carving wooden gifts and show you how to pick the right wood. After learning this, you will have a better understanding of what kind of wood to choose for carving what kind of piece.
Basic Concepts
All woods are made up in a similar way and internally, so let's break down the properties of the wood using basswood as an example. Because the size of the wooden gifts we carve is small, the size of the wood used is also small. We usually buy cubes of wood that have been dried and cut so that they can be used straight away. However, it is still recommended to select wood before carving a wooden figurine.
How to choose a perfect piece of wood
Typically, we choose wood that has no cracks, knots, or rotten spots, but has a straight wood grain. Wood with cracks is a definite no-no because it could fall off when you carve a certain part. Scarred or rotten wood can be used if it can be perfectly avoided or located in a way that does not affect the appearance of the molding when it is designed.
What we are trying to tell you is that flawed wood may still be used, but it depends on where it is located. For example, if the location of a wood flaw is on the edge, if the piece you want to carve is a figure, there is a high probability that the flaw will be chipped away, so even if the piece has a flaw, it can still be used.
Wood like this, which has a very messy grain, is not recommended for use.
When the wood has a rotten spot and it is throughout the wood, it can be used if the shape you want to carve can be avoided perfectly. When it cannot be avoided, the part with the rotten spots can be chipped off and used in a piece with the right shape to save wood.
Summarizing
Once you understand that the structure of the wood has a direct impact on the quality of your wooden gifts, you should try to avoid flawed wood as soon as you buy the block, as this is the most economical way to avoid having to go through a secondary process and to ensure that your piece will have excellent strength and toughness when it is finished.
