Читать книгу Chip Carver's Workbook - Dennis Moor - Страница 9

It is certainly not difficult to understand that the harder the wood, the harder it is to carve. This does not mean, however, that softwoods are the easiest or best woods to use. It’s also important to note that the terms “hardwood” and “softwood” don’t necessarily reflect how hard the wood is. Some hardwoods are less dense or lighter than some softwoods.

Generally, any tree that loses its leaves in the fall, or a deciduous tree, is considered a hardwood. In contrast, softwoods, such as pine and spruce, retain their greenery year-round and are considered to be part of the coniferous family. Hardwood trees grow with a more consistent and tighter grain pattern than do softwood trees. Thus, hardwoods give a more predictable response to your knives and gouges.

While hardwoods often have more density (weight per unit volume) than softwoods, density varies widely between species. Poplar and aspen, for example, are much lighter in weight than oak, but oak is lighter in weight than rosewood and most exotic woods. Let’s take a look at the qualities of some popular carving woods.