[Woodcarver] tupalo wood, swamp gum

[OLD JOE]

Lori -  can your mountain blue bird pattern be used for a eastern 
bluebird, except color?  Thank you. Old Joe

Lori Corbett wrote:

>DONATIONS to the Woodcarver Mailing List can be made using PayPal OR regular mail. Click this link: http://wwwoodcarver.com/WWWList/WWWList.html
>  
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Hi Larry...tupelo can be knife carved, but it tends to tear if your 
> don't have a very sharp knife. There are special knives that the 
> Cajuns use to hand carve Tupelo. The blades are long and thin and 
> razor sharp. Tupelo is a fantastic wood for power carving, though 
> (that's all I use for my birds).
>
> Now, there are certain parts of the tupelo tree that are the very best 
> for carving. This wood comes from the bell, or bole, of the tree, 
> located under water to about 2-3 feet above. This part has less grain 
> (meaning less hard and soft spots) and is much more consistent.  This 
> is the most desired by bird carvers, as it is fairly easy to carve and 
> holds extremely fine detailing...look for the grain to be spaced 1/2 
> or more between rings. You don't want anything above the bole, and you 
> don't want heartwood. This stuff is NASTY to carve. You get extremely 
> soft between the rings, and extremely hard rings. Also, don't use it 
> if it is excessively yellow...this is a sign of decay, and the wood 
> will disintegrate...it's really punky. Don't use tupelo with dark 
> streaks through it either, as it's another sign that it didn't come 
> from the bole, or is heartwood. The best tupelo comes from Louisiana, 
> and some fine wood also comes from as far north as North 
> Carolina...GENERALLY speaking, the further south, the better the tupelo.
>
> A good way to test if you have an acceptable piece of tupelo is to 
> make an "X" on the end grain with a key. If it glides smoothly, it's 
> good wood. If you feel intermittent resistance (i.e., your key sinks, 
> then raises, then sinks), then it's a not so good piece. Also, you can 
> see the growth rings on the end...the tighter the arc, the closer to 
> heartwood it is, or a sign that it's higher up on the tree.
>
> Hope this helps,
> Lori
>
>
> *New! "Carving Award Winning Songbirds" Message Board 
> <http://lcorbett.proboards45.com/>*
> *Please visit my web site! Whispering Eagle Studio 
> <http://www.whisperingeagle.com>*
> *
> *
>
>
> larry wrote:
>
>>DONATIONS to the Woodcarver Mailing List can be made using PayPal OR regular mail. Click this link: http://wwwoodcarver.com/WWWList/WWWList.html
>>  
>>
>>
>>
>> I am a very new carver, about 8 weeks. I have an excellent teacher in 
>> George Farrell.
>> I have recently been offered a small quanity of tupalo scrops,some 
>> rather large.my question; can this wood be used sucessfully for 
>> carving. I find it wanting to crush under the knife.
>>                                                             larry
>>
>> 
>>_______________________________________________
>>Woodcarver mailing list
>>Woodcarver at six.pairlist.net <mailto:Woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
>>http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/woodcarver
>>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>_______________________________________________
>Woodcarver mailing list
>Woodcarver at six.pairlist.net
>http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/woodcarver
>

-- 
Old Joe (Joe Brott), Plattsmouth, NE USA
"THE WOODCARVERS MAIL LIST" 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/woodcarvingfun/join
 
OLD JOE'S WEB SITE: www.oldjoe.org

FOR LEN DILLON'S basswood roughouts and basswood turnings, click: www.diamondd.org