Another post to get what I'm learning about chip carving into the archives. Experienced carvers already know all this, but maybe it will help another newbie. Hope so.

Dennis Moor's book says 10-12% moisture content is about right. I don't have a moisture meter, but I was experiencing a fair bit of chipout, etc that I thought might be due to low moisture. (Knife is properly shaped and very sharp.)

So I followed Moor's advice. I got a plastic container, put 1/4" of water in the bottom and placed my 3/8" practice board on a can to keep it out of the water. I put the lid on tight and let it sit overnight.

The next day, the wood cut much better - sharp, crisp lines and no tearout. I did get a slight warp, so I've got uneven humidity to correct. But the wood is far nicer to carve.

Fred