TIMBER.
As with rubber, there are many different types of wood, and testing your specific
material is essential to get the best results. In general, wood carvings with consistent
grain and color are more uniform. Knotted wood creates an uneven effect, while
resin wood creates greater edge contrast. Some softwoods, such as balsa, cork, and
pine, carve well (albeit with low contrast) at low or medium power settings and at
high speeds. Other fibers like fir can be affected by uneven fibers and will often
produce poor results no matter what you do. Hardwoods such as cherry and oak
carve well at high power settings and low speeds. Artificial wood products can vary
from brand to brand, mainly based on their glue composition and abundance. MDF
works well but creates dark edges when cut.
In addition to the fire risk of any wood product, extra care must be taken with smoke
from glue used in plywood and other artificial wood. Some are too dangerous to use
at all, while others require careful ventilation and repetitive industrial applications
using breathable PPE. Wood toxicity should also be checked, as dust from some
natural woods, including oleander and yew, can also cause enough nausea and heart
problems.
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