[Woodcarver] Basswood

[Joe Dillett]

Hi Dick,

Thanks for sharing your experience giving us great advice. You guys take the 
best basswood and your hard work come up with some awesome carving stock.

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 [business web site]
http://www.carvingmagazine.com ['Ask Joe' column]
http://community.webshots.com/user/joe_dillett
******************************************************************
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dick Allen" <rja9 at usfamily.net>
To: "[Woodcarver]" <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 8:57 PM
Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Basswood



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> DOUG NEELY wrote:

>

>>

>> Im going to collect a basswood tree (first week of Nov.).I was wondering 

>> how to deal with it?

>>  1.What size lengths should I cut it into?

>>  2.Do I get the lengths sawn into boards?How big do I make those?

>>  The base is about 32 inches round ,and the tree itself is about 55ft 

>> high.Any help would be great.Thank You.

>>  Doug Neely

>

>

> 1.   Probably cut the logs into 104 to 108 inch lengths for milling.  This 

> will allow the finished wood to be cut to 8' lengths and could be hauled 

> in most utility type trailers.  Thw logs will weigh about 2 - 3000 lbs 

> each.  The logs should also be sealed with something on the cut ends to 

> minimize end checking.  One of the commericial products used is Anchor 

> Seal which is a wax base liquid that is painted on with a brush.  If this 

> is not available, paint can be used though several coats may be needed. 

> Any fresh end cuts should be treated also so after milling and the board 

> had been trimmed, the end should be sealed.  Fresh cut basswood will weigh 

> about 5 lbs per board foot and after drying will be about 2.3 lbsper board 

> foot.  To handle the logs will require at least a heavy duty trailer and 

> some strong backs as well as other equipment.  Most preferably would be 

> someone with logging equipment.  If you intend on making any bark boards, 

> the handler needs to be aware of this intent and extra care needs to be 

> used when handleing the logs because chains and hooks can damage the bark 

> during handling.

>    If the logs are in a northern location they can be left in the log form 

> until early spring before milling.  If they are milled during the winter 

> they need to be piled and stickered to allow drying but thicker wood (4-6 

> inches) could get surface cracks if the wood is allowed to freeze and thaw 

> during the initial drying.  We have had this occur in northern Minnesota 

> and usually wait until early spring for winter cut basswood to mill.  This 

> wood is left in an open evironment for several months to allow for air 

> drying.  We usually allow the wood to dry over the summer and then 

> relocate the wood to a hayloft in a barn for continued air drying.  Some 

> of the 4-5 inch wood can be completed in about 2-3 years.  The use of a 

> kiln can improve the turn around time and is often used on 2 inch or less 

> boards.

> 2.  Basswood will spoil very easily if allowed to lay in hot weather.  The 

> log will decay internally and will appear as light colored streaks in the 

> wood.  As indicated in (1) the logs can be stored during cold weather but 

> should be milled soon after the weather starts changing after winter.  For 

> carving you should try to get as much of the wood flat sawn and not 

> quarter sawn.  To make a saw pattern, draw a circle and mark a square in 

> the center that will be the heart which is a part as unuseable.  Then 

> square of the circle as if you removed a slab from each side.  At this 

> point you would determine the size of your thickest pieces and cut 

> accordingly.  If you donot intend on making any 4-6 inch wood, be sure to 

> have the mill cut any board at least 1/4-1/2" over sized.  This would mean 

> for 1" (4/4)  would be sawn as 5/4.  This will allow for shrinkage during 

> drying and a finished board would be a full inch.  For a 1.5 inch board 

> you would have the board sawn as 7/4 which is equivalent to 1.75 inches 

> thick.   Many times defects in the log will help dictate what can be made.

>

>    I have been helping John Krantz with carving wood for several years and 

> I can tell you that good finished carving wood is very labor intensive. 

> This week we have been getting orders and wood ready for a coming show 

> this weekend and start again next week for another show.

>

> Dick Allen

>

>

>

>

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