Silver Birch ???

[FriarsGorse]

Has anyone any experience of carving silver birch ?? At the age of 49 my back gives me some grief so is it worth the pain of felling it and handling some decent size pieces ... I know it is very wet/heavy....or is it crap for carvng ??

[dga3240]

Haven;t got a clue but dear Old Cyril Hart used to say it's only use was fire wood and turnery (brooms and brushes and tool handles) if that helps.

 

Suck it and see? I think they used to use it for making plates and bowls too.

[munksapprentice]

Ive carved with it in the past. Its easy to carve, doesnt really suffer much with splitting and can have some really nice colours running through the wood. hope this helps, certainly worth a go )

[skyhuck]

Canoe????

[Dan Earp]

Canoe????

 

Yeah a friend who makes canoes uses one strip of birch along the top edge. Birch canoes its called

[arbwork]

Old Cyril Hart '' taking me back a few years there!! Practical Forestry for the Agent and Surveyor and others on the shelf gathering dust, birch can be used for spoons and kuska cups nice wood for whittling , mind you its also good when the bark hits the fire! on nights like this

[wisewood]

Good for indoor pieces, doesn't last too well outdoors

[Chainsawcarver]

Wet birch don't, wouldn't bother mate, it suffers with some kind of fungus, which takes over the carving, fair enough it does not split badly, however, better to use some good chestnut, if available, always a winner, carving time is hard work, best not to waste time

[FriarsGorse]

Thanks for the opinions everyone ... I think I will end up suckin' it.