Paul N. Hasluck - Manual of Traditional Wood Carving

Bog-oak is often used for carving, and in Ireland the carving of this wood is one of the peasant industries, the work produced being small but of good quality. Bog-oak is so called from the fact that it is found embedded in the decaying vegetable matter of the bogs, and the oak itself has often entered on the first stage of putrefaction The wood is hard, close-grained, and brittle, but it is also capable of a very high polish. When ready for sale, it closely resembles ebony. It is a very dark-coloured wood, being almost black. Bog-oak is liable to violent splitting and checking after being excavated, and therefore should the carver himself dig it, he should remember not to remove it from the peat water until a store place is ready for its reception. Chip off the sapwood all round down to the heartwood, following the course of the bends. Saw off all broken ends, and cut away all rotten places ; then stand it for a few days under cover, and allow it to drain. If the design of the proposed furniture is partly curved, take advantage of the natural bends of the wood, and so economise material. Mark off the lengths of straight material in the same way. Then cut up the logs into the shortest lengths possible, allowing for waste, of course. Plank the stuff at the sawyers, and rack it, preferably in an upright bar rack which is tight enough to prevent much warping. Cut the panels, seating, etc., out of the large logs, and use those of smaller dimensions for the square stuff. As bog-oak generally takes three or four years to season, and becomes much harder (and more brittle) as it dries, it is desirable to work it out before it gets thoroughly seasoned. In conversion little attention is paid to the silver grain of the wood. Being black, it does not show much. When, however, the medullary rays are rather pronounced, pairs should be matched as far as possible.

.Micro-photograph of Oak Wocd (Multiplication, 30 diameters).

Walnut comes from Juglans regia L. (natural order Juglandace ), now growing in Europe, but originally a native of Northern China and Persia. It grows to a height of 30 ft. to 50 ft., with a diameter of 2 ft. to 3 ft. When green, walnut weighs 585 lb. per cub. ft., and when dry 465 lb. A micro-photograph (multiplied 30 diameters) is presented by . It is a moderately heavy, hard, close-grained wood, and very durable if kept dry. It is dark brown in colour, and is beautifully marked. It is susceptible of a high polish. English-grown walnut is pale, coarse, and perishable, that from the Black Sea being more valuable (logs of this kind as imported measure from 6 ft. to 9 ft. long, and from 10 in. to 18 in. square). Walnut from Italy (Italian walnut) is the best of the walnuts; this is obtainable in planks measuring from 4 in. to 9 in. thick, 10 in. to 16 in. wide, and 5 ft. to 12 ft. long. Italian walnut is a rich and beautifully marked wood, very suitable for carving. Close-grained and hard, it amply repays the extra labour of working it.

American Walnut

American walnut ( Juglans nigra L.), or black walnut, is grown chiefly in Eastern and North America, and grows to a height of 60 ft. to 150 ft., with a diameter of 3 ft. to 8 ft. Its specific gravity is 611 and its weight per cub. ft. is 381 lb. It is hard, tough, and rather coarse-grained. It cleans up to a smooth surface, and takes polish well. It is a capital wood for carving, and it is not liable to split. It is considered less liable to insect attack, more uniform in colour, and darker and more durable than European walnut. In colour American walnut is a violet or chocolate brown, blackening with age. Logs from 10 ft. to 20 ft. long and from 15 in. to 30 in. square are imported. Planks of American walnut can be obtained in. to 2 in. thick, and boards from to 2 in. thick.

.Micro-photograph of Walnut Wood (Multiplication, 30 diameters).

.Micro-photograph of Lime or Linden Wood (Multiplication, 10 diameters).