I'm working with a nice branch of poplar and I want to turn it into smaller blocks for figure carving. My question is whether it's important to remove the pith from these blocks. Will leaving the pith affect the final carving, especially regarding cracking or splitting?
3 Answers
It's not only about removing the pith, but also about planning ahead. I usually pick wood without the pith or the outer layers because they are prone to checking and cracking. When I do carve from a branch still containing the pith, I simply accept that it might crack and incorporate that into my design.
Removing the pith can be crucial because it tends to crack as the wood dries. Unless you're planning on using those cracks creatively in your design, it's best to cut it out from the start.
Definitely consider removing the pith. Leaving it in increases the chance of cracking significantly, almost guaranteed. It's better to eliminate that risk right away.