Where to Buy Wood for Carving [2023 Updated]

Where to Buy Wood for Carving [2023 Updated]


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This is Where to Buy wood For Carving. In this post, you’ll learn where to buy the best wood for carving that looks great, but doesn’t feel like you need a jackhammer to carve.

Updated 2023

wood for Carving

wood-for-Carving.jpg”>wood-for-Carving-208×300.jpg” alt=”Where-to-Buy-wood-for-Carving” width=”208″ height=”300″/>wood-for-Carving-208×300.jpg” alt=”Where-to-Buy-wood-for-Carving” width=”208″ height=”300″ srcset=”https://www.westfarthingwoodworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Where-to-Buy-wood-for-Carving-208×300.jpg 208w, https://www.westfarthingwoodworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Where-to-Buy-wood-for-Carving.jpg 432w” sizes=”(max-width: 208px) 100vw, 208px”/>wood you use for carving is a little bit different than regular wood. Sure, it still would, but there are some differences that end up making a big difference.

For starters, pieces of wood that are meant to be used by woodcarvers tend to be softer, and easier to work with. The grain also tends to be a lot less pronounced, which makes the material more even all the way around.

If you are getting into wood carving for the first time, I definitely recommend that you work with one of these types of wood. Not only will the experience be a lot easier, you won’t accidentally scare yourself away by trying to carve a piece of concrete.

Also, the process itself will be a lot safer. When you work with a piece of wood that’s easier to carve, you tend to make less mistakes, and get less frustrated. Your cuts are also easier, which means you won’t have to force things, which is where you can make safety related errors.

See Also: How to Make a Hand Carved Wand

Your Local woodworking Store

One of the first places to check out, especially if you’ve actually never handled this material before is your local woodworking store. This will give you a chance to ask some questions too, because you probably have several as a beginner.

Any good woodworking store will have at least one or two species, likely Butternut and Basswood, that you can check out for wood carving. They are a little different from each other, but are very similar when it comes to carving.

Both of these types of wood are easy to work with, and that’s outstanding. While you’re in the store, ask if they have someone that’s familiar with wood carving and you can also get some of your questions answered too.

See Also: woodworker/”>15 Amazing Tips on How to Become a More Productive woodworker

Online from Amazon

Another great place to buy carving blocks is on Amazon. Once you know what you’re looking for, it’s a simple matter of typing it into the search bar and then seeing what the different merchants have to offer.

Doing things on Amazon is great, because you don’t even have to leave your house, and you can have it shipped to your door very quickly. If you are a Prime member, you might even have it in just a couple days.

Just like buying anything online, buy a piece or two and see if you like it before you commit to buying a very large volume. It’s always best to do a smaller test purchase just to verify quality before committing all of your funds.

See Also: tools-the-safe-way/”>How to Buy Reconditioned tools the Safe Way

In Most Hardwood Stores

Lots of hardwood stores and exotic wood stores will also carry several wood species that are easy to carve. This may not even be intentional, but due to the sheer volume of material that the stores carry, they will typically have some.

It’s easiest just to ask someone in the store to help you find the best wood that you could use for your carving project. Once you do, take a look at the material and pick out some pieces to try at home.

You might even end up finding something new or different that you haven’t carved before. This is where you have an opportunity to try something other than what you’re used to, and it could inspire you to make an excellent project.

See Also: woodworker/”>50 Awesome Reasons to be a woodworker

Tips for Buying Carving wood

Here are a few tips when it comes to buying carving wood that can help you make the most out of the experience and also get the best piece for your buck:

  • In the beginning, stick with the safest and the most well-known species that are used by woodcarvers. This will ensure that the wood doesn’t make you have a bad experience.
  • Make sure that the tools that you use are incredibly sharp, Dull knives can ruin the carving experience faster than a hard piece of wood.
  • Whenever you buy a piece of wood, especially if it’s new to you, start out with a couple of pieces and make sure you like them before you buy a huge pile.
  • Avoid pieces that are wet, and make sure that you have wood that is seasoned well enough that you can carve it without your projects cracking apart shortly there after.

See Also: woodworker/”>How to be a Modern Renaissance woodworker

People Also Ask:

What wood is the best for carving? The best wood species for carving are basswood and tupelo, both of which are softer, easier to carve, and have less pronounced grain lines making your carvings stand out. Both are available at stores that supply carving materials and tools for woodworkers.

What wood is soft and good for carving? The best soft woods for carving are basswood and tupelo, both are soft and easy to carve.

What should I carve as a beginner? As a beginer, the best things to carve are pieces of wood that are soft, and patterns that are easy. Don’t be afraid to be a beginner. Pick a nice easy beginner pattern and start carving. As you get more comfortable with those easier patterns, you can switch to something more difficult. 

Your Action Assignment

woodworking-290×300.jpg” alt=”a-beginners-guide-to-woodworking” width=”290″ height=”300″/>woodworking-290×300.jpg” alt=”a-beginners-guide-to-woodworking” width=”290″ height=”300″ srcset=”https://www.westfarthingwoodworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/a-beginners-guide-to-woodworking-290×300.jpg 290w, https://www.westfarthingwoodworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/a-beginners-guide-to-woodworking.jpg 554w” sizes=”(max-width: 290px) 100vw, 290px”/>Now that you know how to buy the best wood for carving, it’s time to get out into the shop and take action. If you are new to wood carving, or are excited to give it a try, pick one of the main species for carving and get started.

wood carving can be a lot of fun, and it’s also a challenging activity. Though the actual physical side of it is not that bad, the mental side to be able to envision the carved item as you remove material from a block of wood is quite a challenge.

You’ll enjoy it though, especially when you finally see one of your projects come out of a block of wood that you had no idea was really in there. If you have any questions about buying carving wood, please Contact Me and I’ll be happy to answer them. Happy building.

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