Carving my own ashtray

[CackalackyStogieMeister]

A while ago I got the idea to carve my own ashtray since I'm a poor student and can't really afford to spend 20 on one. So now I have my mind set on it. I'm pretty excited to do it and of course I'll be smokin a big fat stogie while I'm carving it. But I wanted to know your opinion on what kind of wood I should get and where I could get it (Home Depot?). I was thinking Spanish cedar, but I don't know how easy it is to carve or how well it will perform.

Has anybody tried this before? Any suggestions?

[45Seventy]

Originally Posted by CackalackyStogieMeister

A while ago I got the idea to carve my own ashtray since I'm a poor student and can't really afford to spend 20 on one. So now I have my mind set on it. I'm pretty excited to do it and of course I'll be smokin a big fat stogie while I'm carving it. But I wanted to know your opinion on what kind of wood I should get and where I could get it (Home Depot?). I was thinking Spanish cedar, but I don't know how easy it is to carve or how well it will perform.

Has anybody tried this before? Any suggestions?

I would not use spanish cedar, as it is carcinogenic in dust form, and absorbs everything. I'm not sure I think some of the hardwoods would be better, but I leave any recommendations to the better informed.

[DaReallyPoGigolo]

You should find yourself a nice hardwood, maybe one of those random blocks of hardwood you can pick up at woodworking shops.

[fuente~fuente]

Definately a hardwood.

Make sure you post pics after your finished.

[eyesack]

Do you already have the tools to carve one? Those alone'll set you back a few bucks, plus the block of wood may cost upwards of 10-20 bucks depending on how deep/wide you want this ashtray to be. Personally, I think ebony finished with some gold/brass accents would look awesome!

[Grammaton]

If you plan on doing this with whatever knife you have already laying around, think green (freshly cut) wood from a tree in your neighborhood.

[ericb13]

I would go with a block of ebony or black walnut...although either will cost more than an ashtray and you'd need to have some power tools. Are you going to whittle it with a pocket knife or carve it with carving tools? If whittling, the freshly cut tree idea from above is right on.

I've had this idea also and I'll probably do it someday. I was thinking of using a combination of ebony or walnut with some bird's eye maple. The only question then becomes, how do you protect the wood from getting burnt? Would lacquer hold up to cigars? Or shellac maybe?

[Herf N Turf]

Im considering doing the same thing. My dad's wood pile is full of aged maple and oak.

[Grammaton]

Originally Posted by ericb13

I've had this idea also and I'll probably do it someday. I was thinking of using a combination of ebony or walnut with some bird's eye maple. The only question then becomes, how do you protect the wood from getting burnt? Would lacquer hold up to cigars? Or shellac maybe?

The wood should never really get burned by the cigar. Cigarettes would scorch it easily, but the cigar should go out before it touches the wood.
A shellac finish can be repaired easily so I that's how I would go, but I'm a big fan of shellac anyway.

[CackalackyStogieMeister]

Thanks for all the suggestions. And yes, I do plan on 'whittling' it with a pocket knife. I don't plan on this ashtray to be beautiful or fancy by any means; I just want it to be functional.

Looks like I'll go with a fresh peice of wood off the ground. I hope I can find a peice big enough.

[Herf N Turf]

Originally Posted by CackalackyStogieMeister

Thanks for all the suggestions. And yes, I do plan on 'whittling' it with a pocket knife. I don't plan on this ashtray to be beautiful or fancy by any means; I just want it to be functional.

Looks like I'll go with a fresh peice of wood off the ground. I hope I can find a peice big enough.

If youre going to use a pocketknife on hardwood, be sure you have a good sharpening stone and I will look forward to seeing pics in the early 2030's LOL Id recommend investing in a wood chisel and malet.

Id also recommend against using "fresh" wood. Sap and other moisture will play havoc on your whittling and in the end, is as likely to crack/split as not. Try to get an old (dried) section of log and a friend with a chain saw to rough-cut you a chunk.

[Grammaton]

Originally Posted by CackalackyStogieMeister

Thanks for all the suggestions. And yes, I do plan on 'whittling' it with a pocket knife. I don't plan on this ashtray to be beautiful or fancy by any means; I just want it to be functional.

Looks like I'll go with a fresh peice of wood off the ground. I hope I can find a peice big enough.

If you do it right, a three or four inch diameter limb should work. You'll figure out the best way to work the wood if you experiment. Don't think of the first one as your masterpiece.

Originally Posted by Herf N Turf

Id also recommend against using "fresh" wood. Sap and other moisture will play havoc on your whittling and in the end, is as likely to crack/split as not. Try to get an old (dried) section of log and a friend with a chain saw to rough-cut you a chunk.

Green wood is soft and easily carved. Dry wood is impossible to work without power tools.

[Herf N Turf]

Originally Posted by Grammaton

Green wood is soft and easily carved. Dry wood is impossible to work without power tools.

Agreed, but Id just hate to see him invest time and sweat into something that ends up splitting on him. Not to mention the year it will take to dry out sufficiently to apply a finish.

[Grammaton]

Originally Posted by Herf N Turf

Agreed, but Id just hate to see him invest time and sweat into something that ends up splitting on him. Not to mention the year it will take to dry out sufficiently to apply a finish.

It's just going to be an ashtray.

[eyesack]

Yeah man, if you're just doing it with a pocket knife, you'd better have one hellov an edge on that thing! Try with some pine or spruce; they're pretty soft woods to work with and cheap at that!