Basswood Plaque Help
- WaltS
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 500
- Joined: Tue Sep 13, 2016 7:44 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: ShopBot 2418 - Spindle - ScottP Spoilbrd
- Location: Virginia USA
Basswood Plaque Help
I have never carved basswood and have two pieces to make a couple plaques for Christmas. Looking around online you get so many different answers to what type of wood it is let alone trying to find anything useful. So I ask the experts, where to start for feeds and speeds. I'll be using 1-8" and 1-4" end mills to 2D pocket the designs, not really much in the way of text. Thanks as always for your advice!!!
- dealguy11
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 2486
- Joined: Tue Sep 22, 2009 9:52 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: Anderson Selexx 510
- Location: Henryville, PA
Re: Basswood Plaque Help
Basswood is soft and easy to cut. It is a nice wood to use for hand carving because it doesn't require a mallet - you can just cut it with a sharp knife or gouge and it cuts cleanly with hand tools. I've had some fuzzies cutting it with router tools, sort of like poplar. I can't suggest speeds and feeds for your machine, but I would machine it just as I would any other hardwood. My preference is to keep spindle speeds down (12k or so) and feed rates higher to minimize burning.
Steve Godding
Not all who wander (or wonder) are lost
Not all who wander (or wonder) are lost