[joshua wood]

Hi every one.
I was hoping someone on the carving path might be able to point me in the right direction.

I am looking for a piece of ebony or similar, very hard, finely grained wood in it's natural state. A section of branch that hasn't been cut into boards or blocks. nothing too large either.

If you get the "Wood Carvers Supply" catalog, you may have seen the type of piece I'm talking about. In one of their photos, they have a carving done in a piece of what looks like ebony. Here is a pic from their site.


I have been wanting to do something similar, with the carving fitting with the natural wood. However, all I have come across is standard cut stock.

Any ideas???

Thanks in advance

Josh

[Jim Kelso]

I would give Gilmer Wood Co. a call. 888-667-3979
They get many woods in the log and offer them.
Calling is the best way to find out.
Beautiful work on the branch shown.

Jim

[joshua wood]

Thanks a lot, Jim.
I'll look into their stuff. I've never worked with them before.


yeah, I really like the way the artist kept the natural texture of the wood in that piece but also gave it a great finished look.

thanks again

Josh

[Doug Sanders]

Joshua-
I just had a thought that it's very difficult to bring wood into the US, past Customs, with bark still on it. I suppose it can be done, but no business is going to admit they do it.

[Jim Kelso]

Good point Doug. The limb and log material at Gilmer seems mostly to have been debarked, but I haven't asked them or looked through with that in mind. I've found them very helpful.

[DCallaghan]

joshua wood, on Sep 17 2008, 05:16 PM, said:

I am looking for a piece of ebony or similar, very hard, finely grained wood in it's natural state. A section of branch that hasn't been cut into boards or blocks. nothing too large either.

If you get the "Wood Carvers Supply" catalog, you may have seen the type of piece I'm talking about. In one of their photos, they have a carving done in a piece of what looks like ebony. Here is a pic from their site.
Frog_carving.JPG

I have been wanting to do something similar, with the carving fitting with the natural wood. However, all I have come across is standard cut stock.

Any ideas???

Thanks in advance

Josh

This could be a peice of desert ironwood. No discernable grain, bark instinguishable from wood I got a sample at a rock and mineral show in Tuscon many years ago. I beleive it is illegal to collect from the desert in the US. Mine came from Mexico. It is used for carving in the Baja penninsula of Mexico

I ordered some more from a supplier in Ohio but never got it.

I was told there is some conceern about possibly toxic dust so be careful.

You can sometimes find natural wood at pet stores. They use it as habitat in terrariums. I have seen manzanita burl there. We have a plant store nearby (Michigan) that specializes in desert plants so that might alos be another place to look.

David