Handle Tanto
Handle Tanto
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US $23.23
I know Poplar is supposed to be good for carving, what about some Red Oak?
I'm getting a small piece of wood to carve a wooden tanto (don't ask why, it's just an easy shape) with a Rotozip and vibrating sander, I had a jigsaw but sold it. The Rotozip can be very aggressive, can you advise me on handling if you have one? The big question is the red oak. Will that be possible? I might try to practice on poplar first. The boards are long enough to make a second if I mess up the first. They are ≈ 1.5 by 0.5 inches and 2 foot long.
Red Oak can be problematic to work with for a number of reasons. It's relatively hard, has a lot of splinters, is an open pored wood, is prone to chipping, quickly burns when electric rotary tools are use on it, and has pronounced grain that makes it difficult to carve. Poplar is a much better choice because it is a lot softer, has a smoother texture without open pores, and offers much more forgiving grain.
Even easier would be Basswood, available at a Woodcraft store or quality lumber yard. It is very soft, is white in color, close grained, and has been the favorite of wood carvers for years. It doesn't chip or splinter but it may not be available in your area.
No matter what species your working with, sharp tools are key as well as good lighting. Protect your hands with leather or carver's gloves that contain Kevlar to keep cutting tools from piercing your skin, also available at Woodcraft http://woodcraft.com.
I'm not sure about the wisdom of using a Rotozip because it really isn't made for carving like a Dremel tool is. It may be too aggressive to use without a vise and I wouldn't want it that close to my hand whether I had a special glove or not. A Dremel tool is much smaller, lighter, usually variable speed, and much easier to control than a Rotozip would be. Plus, there are a lot of attachments and bits available at a home center or hardware store and there are a lot of different manufacturers that make very similar products.
Wear a leather or Kevlar glove, safety glasses, respirator, and hearing protection.
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