Cypress Knees Santas

[Wdcarver55]

Finally got to carve most of the day.

[Claude]

Nice Santa's!

Claude

[joepaulbutler]

Cypress' knees are so interesting to carve, never start with the same thing, except the wood, good job

[Wdcarver55]

Thats right, I've carved somewhere between 250-300 knees in the last 11-12 years, each is different. That's what I like about them.

Cypress' knees are so interesting to carve, never start with the same thing, except the wood, good job

[scotia carver]

Hi Greg
\Nice work on the cypress Santas, I guess when I get #300 carved I will know how to do it, I have about 8 knee in the last four years, they are non existing in our swamps in Nova Scotia, the best ones i carved came from North Carolina, I purchased them on Ebay. Thanks for sharing your pics with us. What is cypress lumber like to carve?
Bruce

[Bob K.]

Looks like your day was well spent, Greg.

[Nomad]

They look great. The photos are a little blurry and I doubt they do your carvings justice.

[Wdcarver55]

Thank you guys

bruce, I have not carved any cypress lumber, maybe someone else could answer it for us.

[Claude]

I have carved cypress lumber and it is not fun! The wood grain has that hard/soft/hard/soft thing just like pine. Even with very sharp tools, the soft parts crush instead of cut. Tear out is a problem because of this. If you can find wood that has 30-40 rings per inch, it's not so bad, but the newer stuff (8-10 rings per inch) is not good for carving.

Claude

[Wdcarver55]

Thanks Claude, seems it's kinda like the knees. I block the face out with the my knives and gouges. The rest I do with power, just makes it a lot easier.

[scotia carver]

IHi Claude
Was the cypress lumber kiln dried or air dried.?
I bought some poplar that was kin dried it was like oak trying to carve it.
Bruce

[Arthur C.]

I carved a sign for a son's camp out of old reclaimed barnwood cypress, probably 50-100 years old, not very detailed, and it carved beautifully. Didn't check the ring count, but it must have been spot on. Another son just brought me a knee about 12" tall and base about 6" x 12" that he cut a few days ago...I already see a couple of possibilities in it.