[Woodcarver] Re: Red Oak.

[Joe Dillett]

Hi Clive,

Red Oak shouldn't be that hard to carve. Maybe your piece didn't dry
properly or perhaps a fungus killed the tree? Normally Red Oak is an
acceptable carving wood but once in a while if I get a one splintering, like
yours is, it is because of improper drying or the splintering is caused from
an oak fungus that killed the tree. That fungus is like a mesh between the
bark and the sapwood and challenges even the best kiln operators to dry it
without the surface of the boards checking badly. Wetting the surface with
50/50 mixture of Isopropyl Alcohol and water might help.


Joe Dillett
The Carving Shop
645 E. LaSalle St. Suite 3
Somonauk, IL. 60552
(815) 498-9290 phone
(815) 498-9249 fax
http://www.thecarvingshop.com
jdillett at thecarvingshop.com
http://www.carvingmagazine.com Carving Magazine web site and Readers Forum
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