October 10, 2021

Carving Rhododendron Wood | With Great Examples

Thinking of carving rhododendron wood.? If you are a wood carver, you are probably pretty familiar with the different types of wood. But you may not know exactly what wood something is made of. Take rhododendron wood, for example. I have seen it used in various woodworking projects, but you may be confused when you get it because it looks like a willow. However, the wood is made from the inner bark of the rhododendron tree and is called โ€œrhododendron woodโ€ because it has bright yellow flowers.

What is rhododendron wood?

It is an ornamental plant known for its evergreen leaves and large, beautiful, rose-like flowers. The Greek name means the tree of roses, and rhododendron wood is of broadleaved trees on steep slopes, including beech and sweet chestnut.ย 

Rhododendron is a large genus of flowering plants with more than 1,000 wild species, popular in the Himalayas and Southeast Asia. It is popular in forestry woodlands; the flowers come with white, pink, purple, yellow, and sometimes red blossoms. Rhododendrons are for home landscapes and make wood material.sย 

Why you should carve rhododendron wood

Rhododendron wood carves smoothly and is light, and becomes hardwood when dried. The wood is heavy and close-grained. That makes it ideal for decorative bowl carving, homemade mallets, and wood-splitting wedges.ย 

The wood is nice to carve and comes out strong. It is closely grained, bringing consistency and attractiveness when polished. The offcuts make better carvings, and that makes it economical.ย 

Broneirion โ€“ rhododendron byย Penny Mayes,ย CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The wood has a uniform density and tight, fairly consistent grain with a solid pith. The rhododendron comes with fine-grained wood that makes beautiful bowls, spoons, and furniture, which is why you should invest in timber.ย 

How to carve rhododendron wood

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ7W3k7yW4o

Wood from rhododendron is dense, making it better to carve utensils from them. In some areas, it is called Spoonwood. The tree grows everywhere like weeds, and it is a good source of wood used without a negative impact on the forests.ย 

Rhododendron is known to be poisonous, but researchers found out that the leaves and flowers are poisonous. The poison manifests through the level of grayanotoxin in the different parts of the plant. Grayanotoxin is a neurotoxin that causes illness or death in animals and humans.ย 

The highest concentration is in the flowers and leaves. It is deadly if ingested in the highest quantities. However, the chances of consuming more wood to be toxic are low. Handling the wood is safe since there is no risk of absorption through the skin.ย 

So, carving a spoon from a rhododendron that weighs 1 ounce when dried contains 3.8mg of GI, which is too low to be toxic. Even if you are consuming the spoon, it remains less toxic. That means making utensils using rhododendron wood is safe, but it remains a personal choice to use it or not.

What tools to use

  • Chisel.
  • Carving knife.

Where to begin carving

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUyYGoGtYrA
  • As soon as you gather your tools, familiarise yourself with the types of wood carving. These are whittling, relief carving, carving in the round, and chip carving. Choose the style of your choice and learn about it in detail.
  • Whittling uses a stiff-handled whittling knife. The knife gives sharp, angular strokes to the finished pieces.ย 
  • Relief carving involves carving figures into a flat wooden panel. It gives you aย  three-dimensional design that requires multiple hand tools to complete the project.
  • Carving in the round uses various tools, and the finished piece will be three-dimensional. Softer and more natural lines are what you get.ย 
  • Chip carving uses knives, chisels, and hammers. That is the most popular method. Be prepared to hold the handle. Chip away at the wood to create three-dimensional patterns on a wood board.ย 
  • Choose the suitable rhododendron wood. Get labeled, higher-quality wood from a craft store or wood supplier instead of picking it from the forest. If you are buying online, buy from trusted shops and go through reviews before purchasing.ย 
  • Get the correct carving knife. Make sure it is sharp, easy to grip, and rigid. More movement from the knife gives you inaccurate cuts. The blade has to be 1.5inches long and the handle long enough to be comfortable in your hands. A utility knife craft knife is ideal for starters.ย 
  • Make use of gouges to scoop out the material. Use it for gouges to carve, shape, and smooth surfaces.
  • Use chisels. Chisels are sharp, flat tools used in conjunction with rubber mallets. Good chisels are especially important for wood-chipping practices.
  • Gather scrap wood for tests and more experience. You cannot work on the actual piece right awayโ€”time to familiarise yourself with the tools and avoid cutting Howardโ€™s yourself. If the knife slips, you will injure yourself.
  • Use sharp tools even when practicing for the tests. Keep your hands behind the sharp cutting edge. So that your fingers remain safe, keep them steady for control.
  • These tools can slip as you work, and if your fingers are in front of the blade, itโ€™ll result in an injury.
  • Start carving along the grain and make your cuts along the grain instead of working against it. Cutting up against the grain causes splintering. Carve in a downward direction onto the lines of grain. You can also carve diagonally across the grain or parallel to it, but do not carve up against the grain.
  • Practice standard cuts and endure the pressure. Push the cutting edge of a gouge straight into the wood, and pull it out without pushing it any further.

Is rhododendron good for whittling

Whittling is the skill of carving shapes out of raw wood using a knife. The repeated process of shaving off pieces of wood is ideal for rhododendron wood since it is strong. The chances of splitting and getting damaged remain low, which is why the carvings come out better as artistic creations.

What wood is bad for carving?

Red Oak is a difficult type of wood to work with. It requires a mallet to carve, and it is quite porous. You cannot carve the wood into objects that come in direct contact with water; it comes with long and big grains.ย 

Despite its difficulty in carving, it gives a smooth finish that requires minimal staining. Red Oak is ideal for professional woodcarvers. It takes experience to deal with, and more knowledge makes the project easy. It remains a durable hardwood in woodwork.ย 

Can you use rhododendron wood?

You can carve rhododendron wood, as illustrated in this post and the videos. It is also great for creating art directly on the tree.

Is rhododendron wood good for carving?

Rhododendron wood is heavy and close-grained, making it perfect for carving decorative bowls. It makes for a lovely finish that is durable.

Is rhododendron good for whittling?

Rhododendron is good for whittling when it is not too dry. Leaving it too long will make it harder to whittle. It does not have nasty odors or toxicity issues to worry about.

Rhododendron wood uses

Besides being used for woodwork, rhododendron has some medicinal properties.

  • Ideal for woodturning
  • Biomass
  • Charcoal
  • Crafting

Is rhododendron a hardwood?

Yes, rhododendron is a hardwood.

Can you burn rhododendron wood?

Yes, you can burn rhododendron wood. You will find it used for charcoal and in biomass. It is an excellent source of heat energy. This is not economical when done on a small scale.

What is the density of rhododendron wood?

The density of rhododendron wood is 0.85g/cm3.

Conclusion

The wood of the rhododendron is easy to carve so you can do it yourself. Two tools are needed for carving: the chisel and the gouge. The chisel is used to cut out the figure on the wood, while the gouge is used to get the shape of the figure.

David D. Hughes

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