[Woodcarver] Re: tool breakage and ironwood

[Mike & Patty Wilcox]

This is from S. Alabama
it is a very light color with the rings being what I would call red
very hard







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  Somehow I missed the reference to ironwood carving in the original post. Ironwood is a very generic term and is used, by locals, for several different types of wood in different parts of the country.

  However, there is a wood from the southwest and Mexico that's common name is ironwood. It is a beautiful dark reddish brown with yellow sapwood. Ironwood carvings are sold in many airports and souvenir shops. 

  If this is the wood that is in question by our list, it should be handled very carefully. Sure we need to be careful with dust in general, but ironwood is safe only when carved with hand tools as the dust from sanding or power tool use is extremely dangerous. 

  The Seri Indians started carving, in the now familiar airport format, and their carvers started dying. It took a while for them to find out that it was ironwood dust and change their carving methods to insure safety.

  I encountered ironwood early in my woodcarving career while stationed in the southwest with the National Park Service. I had gathered several pieces, even after learning of the situation involving the Seri carvers, and intended to carve them someday. But, as I got older and the reality of actuarial tables sunk in, I decided that I could carve black walnut and get close enough to the look of ironwood. 

  Paul Guraedy
  Alpena, Arkansas


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