What is the best kind of wood for carving?

What Kind or type of wood do you suggest to make sculpting and statuary for professional job and hand carving?

• I'm trying to make a Sculpture with top quality for some places ( They will use it for outdoor or maybe indoor) so I should use the Best wood Hardest Wood And the Most Heavy wood to make it....Some friend said Beech Wood,,,some friend said Walnut Wood and some said it's good to use Mahogany Wood or Teak wood. There ism any choices but still I don't know what kind of wood should I use for my Hand Carving and for me it doesn't matter how is that hard wood too BUT I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BEST WOOD THAT I SHOULD USE IT. The wood life should be long as much as to be in perfect position and doesn't get any change after years. What do you suggest for such a job?

• Answer:

  Go take a good look at any wooden sculpture's you can find. Type in a search for every wood suggested. If you use any hardwood and you want it large then you will be taking on a "green" hardwood and carving/sculpting a "wet" wood. You will be hard pressed to find a cured/dried wood from a supplier and will most probably be looking for a trunk or limb of suitable thickness and or shape. Oak will dry and crack as will many hardwoods if carved from "green" wood,but sometimes that's the appeal. I would seriously consider gathering many types of wood and carving Makette's first.You will get to know each woods limits and each characteristics. Wood will curl away from the ring growth so curling outward from the centre. Grain and knots where branches have been are another consideration,you can use these to effect in many ways. Go to your local gallery or find your local wood turner or sculptor/artist to see what they use/recommend. I have made Totem poles from discarded telegraph poles and am a Carpenter/joiner,i also sculpt in clay and throw pots on wheels and paint in oils.Some of my work can be found on f book simon james wolf henry ask to be a friend and you can view some of my works in my albums. if it was me,i would see what wood/tree trunks are readily available and work on whatever i could get hold of. the good thing about wood is that there are many treatments you can finish the sculpture with. enjoy and hope you post a pic sometime so i and others can see your work. Ash Oak Elm Maple Cherry Utile Mahogany etc etc Depends on finish and colour and grain.Only you will know when you see/feel it. Also Tools are another consideration,roughing out tools,medium and fine detailing tools both hand and "machine" tools like a chain saw. No good wasting valuable time chopping waste off with an axe or chisels if you can get it done faster and get on with details. I enclose a link,there are many sites worldwide to view,but this will give you some idea of woods to use.