Post #421570 by tikitonga on Mon, Dec 1, 2008 12:01 AM

I've been preparing to carve my first tiki for quite awhile now. I've got the tools and am ready to go. The problem is that the only logs I can secure are Pine. From the research I've done here, I understand Pine to be a hard wood to carve.......and being a first timer, I'm wondering if starting off with Pine is a bad idea. I've tried a few cuts and find the wood to be pretty uncooperative...although it could be the result of dull chisels. I've been searching for basswood logs for months with no luck and as a result, I've been putting my carving on hold. So the question is, do I dive into the Pine and muscle through it and risk my first experience becoming a nightmare, or am I better off continuing my search for a better "starter" log? Thanks all!