Which Type of Wood is the Best for Beginners? | BC Series #1

When it comes to woodworking, choosing the right type of wood is crucial, especially for beginners. With so many different types of wood available, it can be overwhelming to determine which one is the best for your project. In this article, we'll explore some of the best types of wood for beginners and what makes them a great choice. Whether you're a DIY enthusiast or just starting out in the world of woodworking, this guide will help you make an informed decision and get started on your next project.

What steps to follow before you choose your wood?

Choosing the right type of wood for carving can be a critical step, especially for beginners. The type of wood you choose can greatly affect the ease of your carving process and the final result of your project. Here are some steps to help you choose:

• Identify Your Project: The type of project you're planning to work on can greatly influence the kind of wood you'll need. Small, detailed projects often require harder woods, while larger, more abstract pieces may be more forgiving and can be done with softer woods. Understanding your project's needs is an essential first step.
• Understand the Hardness: Wood comes in various hardness levels, which can affect how easy it is to carve. Softwoods, such as pine or basswood, are generally easier to carve and are ideal for beginners. Hardwoods, such as oak or maple, can produce more detailed work but require more effort and skill to carve.
• Consider the Grain: The grain of the wood can influence your carving as well. Straight-grained wood is generally easier to carve than wood with a more complex grain pattern. Avoid wood with knots, as these can be difficult to carve and may cause the wood to split. To enhance your understanding of wood grain, we recommend immersing yourself in the BeaverCraft guide called «How to maintain wood grain?
• Choose Dry or Green Wood: Dry wood is typically easier for beginners to work with. Green (freshly cut and still moist) wood can be easier to cut, but it has a higher chance of splitting or cracking as it dries.
• Examine the Wood: Make sure the piece of wood you're considering is free from defects, like cracks, splits, or knots. These can make the carving process more difficult, especially for beginners.
• Think About Cost and Availability: Some types of wood may be more expensive or harder to find than others. Pine and basswood are usually reasonably priced and widely available, which makes them good choices for beginners.
• Safety First: Some woods can be toxic, causing reactions ranging from mild irritation to severe allergic reactions. Always research the type of wood you're using, use proper safety equipment (like gloves and a dust mask), and ensure your work area is well-ventilated.
• Try Different Woods: As you gain experience, try carving with different types of wood. This can help you understand the properties of various woods and develop a sense of which ones you prefer working with.

Remember, the best wood for you will depend on your skill level, the type of carving you're doing (chip carving, relief carving, whittling, etc.), and your personal preference. But as a beginner, starting with softer and easy-to-carve woods like basswood or pine can be a good choice.

7 types of best carving wood for beginners

There are different types of wood for woodcarving, but we can distinguish among them some basic wood that most professional carvers choose.

Here is the short table with types of wood for beginners from this article with some of their main features. Consider it like an intro for more detailed journey to choosing your wood for easy carving.

🔘 Basswood	Soft and easy to carve, ideal for intricate details
🔘 Butternut	Lightweight with a coarse grain, suitable for medium to large carvings
🔘 Walnut	Dense and richly colored, offers a smooth finish and works well for intricate carvings
🔘 Cherry	Fine-grained and moderately hard, known for its warm reddish-brown hue, great for detailed carvings
🔘 Maple	Hard and durable, presents a light tone and fine grain, ideal for intricate and delicate carvings
🔘 Sycamore	Medium-density wood with an interlocking grain, allows for smooth carving and intricate patterns
🔘 Tupelo	Lightweight, fine-grained wood with no noticeable grain patterns, commonly used for decoy and bird carving

Now let's look closer to every beginners type of wood from this list.

BASSWOOD

Basswood is softwood and it’s very easy to work with. Carvers use it for creating a wide range of wood art.The huge advantage of this wood is that it can be used for kitchen utensils as bowls or spoons. In addition, it has very low odor and causes no allergies. Read our enlightening article «Is Basswood Hard to Carve?»

 

MAPLE

This type of carving wood presents some challenges. The grain patterns are not straight in comparison with some other wood and create a tendency to blotch when the work is finished. Furthermore, the wood shows up as varying density when you are carving it. It is also true that the wood can make mild allergies during cutting because it has a little odor. Nevertheless, Maple is very popular among many wood carvers.

 

CHERRY

It is difficult to work with this type of wood. Due to its reddish brown color, gentle figures make it an attractive wood for carvers. Cherry shrinks a lot in drying but then is very stable. Working with the wood, you need to use only hand carving tools because power tools can burn it

 

BUTTERNUT

Butternut is also softwood with low odor and it accepts stains well. Raw butternut wood has some little defects and is less expensive in comparison with hardwood prices. This type of wood is used for making a fine whittling craft, because of cutting easily with a sharp carving knife and the wood lightweight.

 

TUPELO

Tupelo has a very fine grain pattern and it is light colored hardwood. The wood is not popular among wood carvers because of its hardness. You need to use a power tool rather than your hand wood carving knives.

 

WALNUT

The most popular wood for whittling is Walnut. This wood has straight wood grains that are good cut with the grain. Walnut has tolerable odor levels and resists moisture quite well. You can make kitchen utensils from this wood and they will last a while. Curious about its carving properties? Dive into our enlightening article, «Is Walnut Wood Hard to Carve?»

 

SYCAMORE

Sycamore is rarely used wood. The wood is moderately strong, stiff, heavy and hard. It has good shock resistance. Carving can be quite difficult, but it rewards the work.

 

 

As we have seen, looking for the best wood for carving is not easy. Choosing the right type of wood in the woodcarving plays a significant role. Each type of wood is the best for a specific project. If you are a beginner, we recommend experimenting with different woods to see what is best for your wood carving skills.For the most part, woodcarving looks harder than what it actually is. You need only some practice and good tools set to make beautiful wood art in no time.

The softest and easiest to carve is Basswood. This why we have some Basswood

Feel free to message us anytime at newsletterteam@beavercrafttools.com in case you get any questions in regards to this or any other project.

Best type of wood for beginners FAQ

What are the best types of wood for beginners in woodworking?

The best types of wood for beginners are softwoods like pine, cedar, and fir. These woods are easier to work with because they are softer and have fewer knots than hardwoods. Additionally, they are less expensive and more readily available than hardwoods.

Why are softwoods better for beginners than hardwoods?

Softwoods are better for beginners because they are easier to work with. They are softer and have fewer knots than hardwoods, which makes them easier to cut, shape, and sand. They also require less power to work with, so beginners can use less powerful tools and avoid damaging the wood.

Are there any downsides to using softwoods for woodworking projects?

Yes, there are a few downsides to using softwoods. First, they are not as durable as hardwoods and are more prone to denting and scratching. Second, they may not be suitable for certain projects that require a harder, more durable wood. Finally, they can have a less attractive grain pattern than hardwoods.

What should beginners look for when selecting softwoods for their projects?

Beginners should look for softwoods that are straight, free of knots, and have a consistent grain pattern. They should also choose woods that are easy to work with, such as pine, cedar, and fir. It's also important to purchase high-quality wood from a reputable supplier to ensure that it is properly dried and free of defects.

 

Author:

Roman Law

Wood carving guru


From a childhood enchanted by nature, my passion for wood carving guided me on a path of creativity. With a pocket knife, I uncovered the transformative power of my hands, breathing life into driftwood and forging a lifelong connection with the medium.