I am new to wood carving- so far all I've been able to accomplish is a few whittled ornaments with a flexcut knife. I'm currently on the waiting list for a Pinewood Forge (PWF) hook knife, sloyd knife, and a few birch spoon blanks since I don't have the tools for shaping my own blanks. I have a while before I receive these items, but I already have a dry cherry blank that I've been trying to hack away at in the meantime. I know that PWF mentions soaking birch prior to carving, but I cannot find any info on soaking cherry. Would soaking cherry make things easier, or is it best left dried and worked with using other tools? Any other woods besides birch that can be soaked? Thanks!!