5 Types of Carving Wood for Beginner Wood Carvers

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction

- Choosing the Right Wood for Carving

- Importance of Soft, Easy-to-Carve Woods

Best Woods for Beginners

2. Basswood (Linden)

- Soft, holds detail well

-  Light cream color with smooth grain

- Ideal for figure and relief carving

3. Butternut (White Walnut)

- Soft wood with a coarse texture

- Light brown with dark streaks

- Easy to carve but dulls tools quickly

4. Aspen

- Soft hardwood with straight grain

- White color, easy to find

- Great for beginners

5. White Pine

- Soft wood with medium grain

- Best for whittling, relief, and round carving

- Can crack if not dried properly

6. 7 Woods beginners should avoid

GETTING STARTED

The wood you use to carve with will differ in its color, grain and hardness. It’s best not to sit down with a random piece of wood, or something too hard when you’re just starting out.

Set yourself up for success with a block of carving wood that holds detail and is relatively easy to carve. We’re going to focus on Basswood, Butternut, White Pine, Black Walnut and Aspen. Not only are these woods recommended for beginners, but they’re also relatively inexpensive and easy to find, depending on where you are.

1. Basswood (Also known as Linden)

Basswood is a soft wood that still holds detail well, so its a perfect for carving if you’re a beginner. It’s light cream colored, with streaks of brown, and has a smooth, even grain. Basswood seldom warps, so its ideal for both large and small carvings, and its cheap and easy to find in hobby shops as well. This is definitely a favorite for figure carving and relief carving. 

Basswood carving blocks from Schaaf Tools

2. Butternut (White Walnut)

Butternut (sometimes called white walnut) is a soft wood that holds detail well. The sapwood (living outermost layer) is white, while the heartwood (inner wood) is light brown, with occasional dark brown streaks. It has a medium coarse texture, with a distinct, straight pattern. Butternut is easy to work with hand tools, but be aware it can dull tools quickly, so have your sharpening stones at the ready. 

 
Coming Out of The Butternut - by woodcarver Nate Elarton. 

3. Aspen

Aspen is technically a hardwood, but its a soft hardwood – not quite as soft as Basswood – but still easy to carve. Again, this wood holds detail well, and has a white coloring and nice straight grain. Aspen trees grow all over the place, so their wood is cheap and pretty easy to find. Inexpensive blanks can be found at most hobby shops.

 
Mark Hanson demonstrates how to carve a Greenman out of Aspen

4. White Pine

White Pine is another good option for those of you just getting into hand carving. Its another soft wood that holds detail well (are you seeing a theme here yet?) with a medium grain and light cream color. White Pine is best for whittling, relief carving, or carving in the round. It is not as well suited for chip carving because it has a soft, straight grained texture. Some people also have trouble with pine cracking as it dries out, so if you’ve finished a carving you like, dry it out slowly, or seal it after a few days. 

5. Black Walnut

Black Walnut is popular, but a bit more expensive than the previous choices. And although its a little harder (this wood is quite sturdy and heavy) it is still straight grained and fairly easy to carve. Walnut has a rich, dark brown color with a beautiful natural finish. If you have a chance to experiment with a walnut carving block, give it a try!

 
 Walnut Carving Block from Schaaf Tools

What Woods Are Hard to Carve? 7 Woods Beginners Should Avoid

When you're starting your wood carving journey, choosing the right material can make the difference between a rewarding first project and a frustrating experience that makes you want to give up. While many woods are beginner-friendly, others present significant challenges that can discourage even the most enthusiastic new carver.

Understanding what woods are hard to carve helps you make informed choices that set you up for success rather than struggle. Here are seven difficult carving woods that beginners should avoid until they've developed proper technique and tool control.

1. Oak - The Grain Grabber

Why It's Difficult:

• Extremely prominent grain that changes direction unpredictably
• Hard density requires significant force, leading to tool control issues
• Prone to tear-out and splitting along grain lines
• Dulls tools quickly, compounding beginner problems

Better Alternative: Start with basswood, which has minimal grain and forgives technique errors. Our 3pc Whittling Knife Set includes basswood blocks perfect for learning proper cuts.

2. Maple - The Density Challenge

Why It's Difficult:

• Extremely dense and hard, requiring sharp tools and proper technique
• Can split suddenly without warning
• Difficult to pare and shape with hand pressure alone
• Shows every tool mark and technique flaw

Better Alternative: Try butternut, which offers interesting grain patterns without the punishing density.

3. Ash - The Unpredictable One

Why It's Difficult:

• Wild grain patterns that change direction frequently
• Very hard and tough, fighting every cut
• Prone to splitting along unexpected grain lines
• Requires constant tool angle adjustments

Better Alternative: Pine offers some grain character while remaining soft and predictable for beginners.

4. Hickory - The Tool Destroyer

Why It's Difficult:

• Incredibly hard and tough, dulling tools rapidly
• Requires mallet work for most operations
• Grain interlocks unpredictably
• Extremely unforgiving of poor technique

Better Alternative: Poplar provides strength and workability without the extreme hardness.

5. Cherry - The Deceptive Beauty

Why It's Difficult:

• Moderate hardness that seems manageable but requires sharp tools
• Prone to burning from friction during carving
• Can chip out unpredictably around knots
• Expensive, making mistakes costly

Better Alternative: Start with basswood and progress to cherry once you've mastered tool control.

7. Any Wood with Large Knots

Why It's Difficult:

• Grain flows unpredictably around knots
• Knots are often harder than surrounding wood
• Tools can catch and tear out chunks
• Requires advanced technique to work around safely

Better Alternative: Choose clear, knot-free boards until you develop experience. Our 12pc Beginner Set includes tools designed for working with consistent, clear wood.

What Makes Woods Difficult for Beginners?

Understanding the characteristics that make certain woods challenging helps you make better choices:

Hardness: Dense woods require more force, making tool control difficult for beginners.

Grain Complexity: Interlocked or changing grain requires constant technique adjustments.

Brittleness: Some hard woods can chip or break unexpectedly under stress.

Tool Wear: Hard woods dull tools quickly, and dull tools are dangerous and frustrating.

Expense: Costly woods make practice expensive and add pressure to "not mess up."

Best Wood for Beginners Instead

Focus on these forgiving options while building your skills:

Basswood: The gold standard for beginners - soft, consistent grain, minimal splitting tendency.

Butternut: Similar to basswood with slightly more interesting grain patterns.

Pine: Readily available and forgiving, though watch for resin pockets.

Poplar: Consistent working properties and takes detail well.

Building Skills Progressively

Start with easy woods and quality tools to build confidence:

1. Master basic cuts with basswood using our beginner-friendly tool sets
2. Develop tool maintenance skills with our Diamond Sharpening Stone
3. Progress gradually to more challenging woods as technique improves
4. Always prioritize safety with Cut Resistant Safety Gloves

Conclusion

Knowing what woods are hard to carve helps you choose materials that support your learning rather than fighting against it. There's no shame in starting with "easy" woods – even master carvers prefer basswood for many projects because it allows them to focus on artistry rather than wrestling with difficult material.

Save the challenging woods for when you've developed proper technique, sharp tool maintenance habits, and the confidence to handle unexpected situations. Your future self will thank you for building a strong foundation with forgiving materials first.

Ready to start with the right wood? Our 3pc Whittling Knife Set includes basswood practice blocks perfect for beginners, while our 12pc Beginner Set provides the complete tool foundation for success with any beginner-friendly wood.