Scrap planed maple for carving practice

[jweston]

I am sure that this has been asked before, but I am interested in getting some maple pieces to practice (learn) the fine art of carving and inlaying. Is there a place that I can get ~8-10 inch long pieces to practice?

Your Thanks.

 

I would try any local wood workers shop, local place that makes furnature or a place that sells wood workers tools (Wodworkers Suppy or Constanines are just two that come to mind).

 

[Birddog6]

You will find that any maple is not scrap...... even in a cabinet or worksop. I suggest starting with pine, then go to oak. The oak splinters easier than the maple when you get to it, so it is easier to carve & won't splinter as easy..

I started on a gun stock. Did a little, next one did more..etc. I practiced with the tools just a lil on just scrap pine & etc. first....

You might also go to a gunsmith & buy a broken stock for little of nuthin....

 

[shunka]

After you graduate from pine, I have found relatively cheap 1x poplar and maple stock available at Home Depot and Lowes. a 1x2 or 1x3 four foot or six foot long will give you lots of linear practice.

best
shunka

 

[waksupi]

Check with gun builders. they usually have a couple buckets full they are stoking thier stove with.

 

[mowolf]

What tools does one need to do fine carving for wire inlays?

 

[rootnuke]

Unless its was your only choice I would not go to a woodworking supply store to buy your curly maple samples to practice on. Wordworking stores in retail centers are WAY too high.

For 1"x2"xwhatever length should run you about $1.40 a linear foot. Woodworking stores are gonna charge you $20.00 for a piece of 1"x8"x2'. Thats manure. :imo:

So where did I find a decent deal? Try to find a wood supply house for home cabinet, funiture or block paneling makers.

 

[Zonie]

I gotta agree with rootnuke.
The folks at speciality wood suppliers seem to think their wood is the only thing available.
My local place even seems to think that little bitty pieces are worth $5-$10. Now, maybe their Teak, Ebony and Zebra Wood is worth that, but I've seen plain ole Straight grained Maple in the bin with similar prices marked on it.
They get away with this by labeling it "Custom Knife Handle Wood".

If you have a local (or even a not so local) cabinet shop around and tell them that your willing to pay for some "close grain' wood scraps if they have any. They have been known to chuckle and give you 5 or 10 pieces for free.
Even if they want $5 for it, your still way ahead of anything you can get at the speciality houses.

I wouldn't suggest that you use pine or fir.
They are so different from close grained hardwoods that any practice you have on them won't give you a feel for the real thing.

 

[riverrat43]

Like Mowolf, I too would like to get an idea of the tools you guys use. Xacto? Gravers? Do you make your own? Use a chasing hammer? Is there a book ( not from Musketman) like Inlay for Dummies?

 

An exacto is generally not used for carving, I use it mostly fo scribing and wire inlay, gravers are for engraving metals. check out www.leevalley.com, for carving chiselsand gouges you gan get a decent starter sen under 40 bucks, but get sharpening stones, as while the are sharp, they're not as sharp as the should be, and you keep sharpening as you work.

 

[vradin]

...but get sharpening stones, as while the are sharp, they're not as sharp as the should be, and you keep sharpening as you work.

For sharpening, I've found that using the "Scary Sharp" system to be excellent for getting your edges keen, then just a VERY LIGHT touch with a fine stone while carving to keep the edge.

If you're still looking for practice carving wood, I've found some real pretty maple, walnut, and even some odd tropical hardwoods used on packing skids. Most places will let you cart off as many as you can carry and a chainsaw to cut out the useful bits around the nails helps. Can't beat free wood, especially when you find some high-figure birdseye maple under that oily crude-encrusted skid from the back of the motorcycle shop.

vic

 

[Terry Zboril]

Mowolf,
Relief carving and wire inlay are two different animals.
Wire inlay almost REQUIRES that you make your own stabbing chisels, usually from old hacksaw blades.

"Recreating the American Longrifle" by George Shumway, and "The Gunsmith of Grenville County", by Peter Alexander, go into detail about both subjects.

Regards,
Terry

 

[L.B. Myers]

Hi All,

I called Jeff at Pecatonica River and he sent me a small load of practice scrap, curly maple. Cost me $10 and very well worth it.

All, FYI

Happy New years!
L.B.

 

[jweston]

Umm. I hate to say, but after the post and all of the replies, I finally remembered ebay. I got a 10 by 10 by 4 block of maple. $6+$15 in shipping.
Thanks to all who replied.