Basswood...worth messing with???

Basswood is wonderful for sculpting!

-- Never board, always knotty, lots of growth rings

Basswood is generally used for carving (it’s what I use), making milk crates, blinds and musical instruments (found this on the internet. It is a hardwood in the linden family (worked at hardwood sales years ago). Go here

-- Elaine, Conover, NC

Yes, it’s a great wood for carving.

-- I'm a wood magician... I can turn fine lumber into firewood before your very eyes! - http://www.woodworkersguide.com

If you’re concerned with using it you can probably sell it very easily to a carver. Or since you have it, you can take up a new hobby, Carving. :-)

-- ~ Inspiring those who inspire me ~

Yup great carving wood

I know that some companies use it for light shelving. They bond the basswood boards together and then put a harder wood such as maple on the leading edge. Just don’t have the wood around high moisture areas. This stuff will start growing again if you do!

Basswood as you guys call it I believe is called lime here in the uk it sells for big money as said carvers go nut’s for it.I would love to try a piece myself as it is said to be perfect for carving.Alistair

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

Yep what they said

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop, custom furniture ,maker, woodworking school, http://www.heirloomwoodshop.com/

Wow, I wish I could send a bunch to the UK to sell. Maybe I can float it over…make a raft, sell it there & make enough to pay my way home. I guess since I don’t carve, It’ll go to Craig’s list. -SST

-- Accuracy is not in your power tool, it's in you

I have used it to carve spoons. Guess I should post those some day!

fishing lures…i just turned my first fishing lure out of it a week ago and it turned very easily…

-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...

Basswood is really stable, albeit a bit soft, but it’s stableness makes it a nice secondary wood for projects. I have used it for drawer sides in the past with great success.

-- Chris,Atlanta Georgia,www.darkhorsewoodworks.com

It is the best carving wood. I use it for inlays too.

Thanks for the input. Not being a carver, I’m glad to hear about it being ok for secondary wood use, drawers etc. -SST

-- Accuracy is not in your power tool, it's in you