Favorite wood to scroll

[BobD]

Hi everyone.
It seems like people are always trying to scroll different types of wood...so here's a question:

What is your favorite wood to scroll (for the projects you are most interested in/have the most fun doing/do the most of)?

Why does that wood work so well for that type of project?

Bob

[Greenfield_Bob]

I use Oak,Walnut,Cherry,and Baltic Birch.
In past years I have made a lot of Christmas ornaments, for them I use oak, walnut, and cherry. I like red and white oak the best.
Bob

Bob,

I like to do a little of everything. I'm currrently finishing up a Desk Clock for my brother-in-law who is a mechanical engineer. It has Depth Gauges, Calipers...etc on it with a clock. I really went crazy on this one. The base is Walnut, the 'instruments' are tiger maple, a small rod is red oak, a 'block' that the caliper's are 'measuring' is paduak and the name is in cursive font made out of Holly to make a good contrast witht he walnut.

[Gill]

Until recently, all my stuff was made out of MDF! Proper wood is (believe it or not) very difficult to acquire in these parts. Recently, however, I've had some oak and mahogany to work with. I found mahogany much easier than the oak because the grain is less pronounced, so there wasn't as much variable blade resistance.

I've got some lime and sycamore awaiting my attention - they should be quite straight forward to work. In fact I've worked a little lime in the past (about 3 cuts only!) and found it very friendly. I anticipate enjoying the lime more than any other I've used to date.

Gill

[CanadianScroller]

I have to say my favorite is cherry for its beauty and the ease of cutting. I also like black walnut. For years I frowned upon plywood. Then I read that plywood was originally created for fretwork because of the stability. I don't frown quite so much. Baltic birch is my choice of ply. I like the number of plys and the consistancy of the material. I have scrolled in everything from red oak to luan panelling, each has its merits.

The more I get into scrolling the more I realize there is not one species of wood that is "best" for scrolling, much of it depends on the project you are doing. I have also found that the grain of the wood plays a bigger part than the species. I could have some quartersawn cedar that would be better for a project than a piece of ripped cherry the same size.

There is no teacher like experience. Even if you cut a project only to find it is unstable, it is not a total loss, you have learned something about the materials you are using. The main thing is have fun. I don't know why anyone would scroll if they didnt enjoy it.

Happy sawdust making

[BobD]

Gill,

What you call Lime in your neck of the woods is what we call Basswood in the states...right?

Bob

[Gill]

Originally Posted by BobD

Gill,

What you call Lime in your neck of the woods is what we call Basswood in the states...right?

Bob

Is it really? Well, you learn something new every day! Thanks for pointing it out - I'll try to remember that.

Gill

[BobD]

I meant it as a question....Is basswood lime?....


Sorry I wasn't more clear!
Bob

[Forester21]

Here I thought he had cut down a fruit tree!!

T

[Gill]

Hi Bob

Apparently, the answer is yes - basswood is also known as lime. However, the American lime is somewhat different to the European lime, according to this description:

While Tilia americana is the most commercially important and abundant of the native basswood species in the United States and Canada, there are others.

The next most common basswood species is Tilia heterophylla or white basswood. Other species include Tilia venulosa of the southern Appalachians, Tilia neglecta and Tilia alabamensis — but these trees grow in much smaller quantities. The less common species are rarely separated commercially but usually sold as white basswood. In some markets the heartwood is sold as basswood and the sapwood as white basswood.

European lime, primarily from species Tilia vulgaris and Tilia europaea, is known commercially as lime, linden and tilleul. While basswood has an average weight of 27 pounds per cubic foot, European lime’s average weight is 34 pounds per cubic foot. European lime is used for many of the same uses as basswood although carving is still considered its most important use.

It is also used for making cutting boards used in leather work because of its resistance to splitting. It is also used for hat blocks, piano keys, harps, toys, artificial limbs, clogs and shoe soles. A small amount of European lime is also sliced into decorative veneers.

Interesting stuff .

Originally Posted by Theresa

I thought he had cut down a fruit tree!!

I presume 'Gill' is a masculine name in the US? It isn't in the UK !

Gill