good soft wood to cut with

[troy_curtis]

Was wondering what is a good soft wood about 1/2 to 3/4 in thick to cut word art with. Something that is solid wood not ply. I know pine is soft, but was thinking about some other woods. I see samples done by Steve on the patterns page, but not sure what he used for them.

[Rapid Roger]

Soft woods in general are not good or easy to cut with. They break and crack too easy and the blade wants to follow the grain. About the easiest and cheapest wood to use is poplar and it is available at the big box stores. It is kind of soft but is really a hard wood and I use it for a lot of my wood working including scrolling.

Rog

[king310]

try some aspen tony. a stepup from bass wood. but that is my opinion. You what they say about that!!!
everyone has one.

[troy_curtis]

lol I know I can't be the only one with opinions, but I do value the opinions of others on here. I will check on some aspen, but bass might also be what I am looking for. Have to look at bass wood. Thanks

[KarlB]

Troy you might consider alder as well.  While it is a hardwood I find it cuts real easy.

Karl

[king310]

aspen has very little grain like bass and balsa wood. To me it doesn't even make good splinters! something I would paint. Clear pine has a good grain for staining or even douglas fir but it is a harder wood.

I forgot you could use OSB but it paints very poorly and doesn't sand very well!

[scotti158]

I agree with Rapid Roger, Poplar is a good wood for a lot of different projects, It doesn't take stain very well though but clear coats good.