Varieties of Wood
Apple (Malus domestica):
Apple wood makes a good carving, and takes a nice finish.
Australian Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon):
Australian Blackwood is a close-grained wood the carves well and has a rich reddish-brown colour.
Basswood / Linden (Tilia americana / Tilia):
Basswood is a lightweight, soft wood, with a straight, close grain. It is compact and a delight to carve, however it is susceptible to decay.
Blackbean (Castanospermum australe):
Blackbean, also known as Moreton Bay Chestnut is an Australian hardwood that resembles teak. It is hard and heavy.
Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens):
Boxwood is a fine-textured, tough hardwood with a deep yellow colour. The wood is sought after by carvers and wood engravers.
Camphor laurel (Camphora):
Camphor laurel is an excellent carving timber from New South Wales and Queensland.
Cedar (Cedrus):
Cedar is a soft, red, scented wood that is easily carved. It is however rather brittle and splinters. Cedar weathers nicely, and is ideal for outdoor murals and signs.
Cherrywood (Prunus avium or Prunus serotina):
Cherrywood is a close, straight-grained wood with minute pores, and is one of the world's best carving woods, being suitable for very fine work. Cherrywood is red in colour.
Hickory (Carya):
Hickory is a light brown, strong hardwood.
Lignum vitae (Guiacum):
Lignum vitae is the heaviest, hardest wood available. It is also one of the most difficult to carve, but rewards the carver by holding a high polish.
Lime / Linden (Tilia):
Lime is a smooth, even-textured wood that is a delight to carve.
Macrocarpa (Cupressus macrocarpa):
Macrocarpa is a good, durable carving wood, that weathers to a warm grey. It is suitble for outdoor furniture and sculpture.
Mahogany (Khaya ivorensis):
Mahogany is a good, strong hardwood of great beauty and durability. It polishes to a warm reddish brown colour and is highly resistant to mould and decay. African mahogany is regarded as the best carving variety.
Maple (Acer):
Maple is a fine grained wood, with a reddish-brown colour. It is classed as a hardwood, although some varieties are soft. Maples compact texture makes it a good carver's wood.
Myrtle (Nothofagus cunninghamii):
Myrtle is a hard, heavy, and strong Australian wood, that takes a great polish. It is a good carving material that tests tools and muscle.
Oak (Quercus):
Oak is a hard, tough wood with a coarse grain. It needs careful seasoning as warping is a problem. It is perfect for all types of carving. Waxing and oils will bring the colour to a light creamy-white or yellow to brown.
Olivewood (Olea europaea):
Olivewood is an excellent carving wood, perfect for carving small animals, and birds. It's distinctive green/brown colour is very rewarding.
Pear (Pyrus):
Pear is a fine-grained wood, suitable for delicate, detailed carving work.
Pine (Pinus):
There are many varieties of Pine, which is a softwood. It is a popular 'first up' as it is easily carved. The heartwood is the best choice. Huon pine and kauri are two good pine varieties for carving that are available in New Zealand.
Plum ():
Plum is a hard, fine-grained wood. Slow-growing trees provide the best wood for carving due to increased hardness.
Poplar (Populus):
Poplar is a soft, light wood, which is easy to carve. Yellow poplar however should be avoided as it seems to grip the chisel.
Redwood (Sequoia):
Redwood is a soft, aromatic, compact wood that is readily worked and responds well to polishing.
Teak (Tectona grandis):
Teak is a hardwood that carves well due to its good even grain. It darkens to a chocolate brown after carving, has the disadvantage that it dulls chisels at an alarming rate.
Walnut (Juglans):
Walnut has a close-grained hardwood with a rich brown colour. The fine, tough grain permits delicate work, and takes a fine polish. Black Walnut and Italian Walnut are generally considered the best for carving.
