Post #173158 by GMAN on Tue, Jul 19, 2005 3:52 PM

Surfinstro,

I've never used big pieces of poplar, but I imagine it would be a dream to carve in. It should be nice and soft, but not too soft. As for prices, I dunno. I've never paid for any carving wood. Maybe offer them a few bucks ($20 or so) for something good sized that they aren't going to be able to cut for lumber. You can also trade one of your older tikis to the guys and they will likely give you free wood for life. I've played that card, and it works like a charm!

Personally, I do wood recon during the work week and hit construction/new land clearing sites on the weekends. They always have PILES of brush and trees waiting to get chipped. I just ask the foreman on site if I can cut a few choice pieces, and I'm on my way. If the construction sites or storms fail me, I know a tree guy up the road who will let me have whatever I want from his storage yard. He brings in trailer truck loads of wood each day from his crews. It's just too sweet!

I took some pics of a walking stick I made in 1994. It was made from a Cuban refugee raft oar that washed up in Marineland, FL (where I was working at the time). The wood is all eaten-up by ship worms, but it's too cool. I used a pocket knife and made a tiki head on a hawk's body. Then I cut a channel in its back and mounted great white shark teeth down its back (from a bycaught fish used in my research). It's kind of primitive and wild looking so I thought you guys could appreciate seeing it. I made one day during work and never touched it again. :)

-Gman

http://www.oceanandislandarts.blogspot.com/

[ Edited by: GMAN 2008-06-12 19:44 ]