Crafting a masterpiece begins with how you ready your wood. If you've purchased wood from a store, the preparation is minimal. However, when dealing with freshly cut wood, often referred to as green wood, there are specific steps to consider before carving. In this article, I'll outline essential preparation steps for novice woodcarvers.
How to Prepare Wood for Carving
Step 1: Bark Removal Considerations
The initial step in wood preparation for carving involves deciding whether to retain or remove the bark, a choice influenced by your specific carving project. If the bark serves a purpose in your design, it's advisable to leave it intact. However, if it has no relevance, it's best to strip it away.Some tree varieties feature tightly adhered bark that proves challenging to remove, while others naturally shed their bark, aiding moisture evaporation. For instance, dry Mesquite bark is relatively easy to peel off, but quite stubborn when fresh. Conversely, willow bark peels away when wet but clings when dry.Numerous methods can be employed to remove bark from wood, including employing a pressure washer, sandblasting, using a dull chisel, and various other techniques.
Step 2: Wood Sizing
Following the bark removal, the next task involves cutting the wood into various dimensions. When aiming to create smaller carvings, such as chess pieces, figurines, or gnomes, it's necessary to slice the wood into smaller pieces. For larger projects, adhere to the desired dimensions and cut the wood accordingly.
Step 3: Preventing Wood Cracking
Green wood is highly susceptible to cracking and splitting as it dries. These issues result from various factors, including excessive moisture, insufficient moisture, and the natural expansion and contraction of wood. Freshly cut wood is prone to cracking due to its high moisture content, while drier wood can crack from contractions caused by low moisture levels.To safeguard against splitting and cracking, it's essential to slow down the wood's drying process. There are numerous methods to achieve this, such as applying a sealant or stabilizer, using salt paste, melted paraffin, varnish, paintable wax, boiled linseed oil, or anchorseal, among other techniques.Anchorseal, a commercial sealant, is particularly effective in preventing cracking and splitting in green wood. It should be applied to the ends of freshly cut logs to minimize cracking as the wood dries. Anchorseal 2, in particular, has proven to be highly effective.
Pentacryl is another commercial sealant commonly used by woodturners and woodcarvers to prevent cracking, splitting, and checking during the drying process. When working with green wood, brush on multiple coats of pentacryl until the wood no longer absorbs it. For smaller carvings, soak the wood in pentacryl for 24 hours per inch of thickness.
Step 4: Wood Drying
If your preference is to work with dry wood rather than green wood, it's time to initiate the drying process. Wood drying is influenced by various environmental factors, including humidity levels, exposure to sunlight, and temperature, among others. Under ideal conditions, it typically takes 6-10 weeks for wood to dry sufficiently for carving.When drying wood, it's crucial to keep it sheltered from rain. Avoid attempting to dry it during winter, as temperatures below freezing will keep moisture frozen within the wood. In the winter months, it's advisable to insulate the wood in a basement or garage with a temperature range of approximately 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit.To facilitate drying, avoid tightly stacking the wood together, allowing for adequate airflow between the pieces. You can achieve this by alternately placing the wood or using bricks to separate the chunks.
Step 5: Wood Storage for Preservation
After completing the drying process, it's essential to take additional precautions to maintain the wood's quality before you start carving. This step is crucial to prevent wood warping and protect it from potential insect damage.To begin, secure a clean, dry storage location to prevent moisture-induced warping. Follow the earlier advice of stacking or using bricks to separate the wood. If you reside in a humid environment, consider covering the wood with a vapor-resistant material.Monitoring the humidity within the storage area is also important to ensure it remains at an optimal level. Using a dehumidifier equipped with an automatic humidity sensor, such as the Ivation IVADM45, can help maintain the desired humidity level. Additionally, prong meters can assist in measuring the wood's moisture content, aiding in effective wood storage practices.
Choosing Between Green Wood and Dry Wood for Carving
Generally, dry wood is the preferred choice for carving, primarily because it has a reduced risk of cracking or splitting as a result of moisture loss during drying. However, green wood remains a popular alternative because of its ease of carving. Its softer nature allows for smoother and simpler cuts.
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