[Woodcarver] red cedar

[Joe Dillett]

Hi Candy,

General Finishes ( www.generalfinishes.com ) makes some good exterior oil.
It does hav UV protection along with fungus and bug inhibitors.

Here in the Midwest and East, wood dries about 1 inch per year. If the log
is long to where the drying is going to work it's way out the sides rather
than the end and the log is 18 inches in diameter, drying time is 18 years.
This is based on starting green and drying to about 18% moisture content.

Depending on what you're carving you may get by with carving green. Yes it
will carve good green but it has a good chance of splitting. One book said
to cover the carving every day with linseed oil, whether you carved that day
or not. I had good success with covering it with floor wax every day because
I couldn't afford linseen oil. If your subject will include removing the
center heart of the log I suggest you remove it as quickly as possible. Most
cracks are generated from the stress caused from the center heart.

Catalpa is an excellent carving wood. Good luck.

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
http://community.webshots.com/user/joe_dillett
http://www.citizenactions.org
**************************************************

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Candy Lytle" <Clytle at mail.huff.com>
To: <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 2004 8:56 AM
Subject: [Woodcarver] red cedar


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>
> I have carved some wood spirits in red cedar and love
> the way they turned out with the variation in color.
> I finished the face with tru oil
> and one with danish oil.
>
> Need your expert opinions on how to perserve the whole
> piece to prevent splitting or rotting. I am going to give them
> as christmas presents and it's possible they will
> be outside in Kentucky 4 seasons weather.
>
> Also I have come across some catalpa logs. Can I carve
> this wood green? How can I tell a piece is ready
> for carving? They are beautiful pieces but don't want
> to start too early with them and ruin my find.
>
> Thanking you in advance for your help
>
> Candy
>
>
> --
> Candy Lytle
> Huff Ft. Mitchell
> Office 859 341-7400
> Desk 859 578-3988
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