Is Oak Good for Carving? DIYers Dilemma

As a woodworker looking to learn how to start wood carving, you’re probably familiar with oak. It’s a popular type of wood for furniture and other household items. But what about carving? Is oak good for carving?

Let’s find out.

In this article, we’ll examine the following;

Is Oak Good for Carving?
Which Oak Species are Best for Carving?
The Pros of Carving with Oak
The Challenges of Carving with Oak
Factors to Consider When Carving with Oak
Tips for Carving Oak Wood

Is Oak Good for Carving?

Oak is one of the best woods for carving. It is a hardwood, which makes it difficult to carve, but it is not as brittle as other hardwoods such as maple or ash. It is also fairly common and affordable, and the grain patterns can be striking.

Which Oak Species are the Best for Carving?

All types of oak can be used for carving. The softwoods are dense, tight-grained, and free from defects such as knots, cracks, and holes.

White oak, red oak, and pin oak are the best choices of oak for carving. However, the difference between them is not very much. White oak is the hardest and has a coarse grain. Red oak is slightly softer than white but has a finer grain than white. Pin oak is softer than red and has a finer grain than red.

Nevertheless, the specific variety of oak is a personal preference, depending on the feel and shape desired.

The Pros of Carving with Oak

One benefit of working with oak is that it is fairly easy to carve and takes details well. It has a low density and open grain, making it easy to work with for both hand tools and machines.

Other benefits include:

Dense – Oak’s high density makes it resistant to water damage, including rotting and warping.
Strong – Its strength gives it the ability to support heavy loads without breaking or bending too easily.
Aesthetic appeal – Oak is known for its beautiful grain and attractive coloration, making it ideal for furniture projects where appearance matters most.

It is important to note that the type of oak you use will make a difference. White oak is stronger and more water-resistant than red oak, for example. This can be useful if you plan on using your carving in an outdoor environment or if you want to protect it from harsh weather conditions when displayed outside the home.

The Challenges of Carving with Oak

But oak is not without blemish when it comes to carving. You’ll face a few challenges here and there:

All oak trees have pores in the wood that are filled with tylosis. It makes carving more difficult because you must cut through this material along with the wood fibers.

The best way to deal with this problem is to use mallets and chisels to rough out your project before using gouges or knives to finish it. Tylosis makes it difficult to remove large amounts of material using gouges or knives. The tools need to be sharp to remove material efficiently and quickly become dull from hitting tylosis.

Using mallets and chisels allows you to remove large amounts of wood without worrying about dulling your tools as much as you would when finishing with gouges or knives.

Factors to Consider When Carving with Oak

There are a few factors to consider when carving with oak:

The grain of the wood. Open-grained oak woods are easier to cut because they are softer and pliable.
The age of the wood. More mature oak will be more difficult to carve due to its hardness. Young trees tend to have softer, more pliable wood than older, mature trees because they have not developed fully and hardened.
The specific type of oak. The type of oak you choose influences how easily it will carve. Certain types of oak are softer than others, but none of these varieties are considered soft woods in general
Project size. The size of the carving project should be considered when choosing oak wood. Oak is quite heavy, making large projects even more difficult than normal. Large carvings are typically done with the help of power tools such as band saws and grinders so that they can be removed from the solid block of wood in manageable pieces.

Density is also a factor. The density of oak wood varies depending on the species of tree. White oak tends to be heavier, while red oak is lighter which makes it the best wood for roofing projects. The denser the grain, the harder it will be to cut into, but it will be easier to work with once you reach past the outer layer.

Tips for Carving Oak Wood

Oak is hardwood and has a high density. It’s not very easy to work with, but it can be carved and shaped well enough. Best of all, if you know what you’re doing, you can get excellent results.

First, you need to make sure that the oak you are using is dry because wet oak will require a lot of force to cut into it. The best way to do this is by using a power saw, e.g., a table saw, or band saw. You want the blade to be sharp and ready to use.

Make sure that the surface you are working on is flat and smooth so that you won’t have any problems with your cutting.

Next, cut the piece of oak into the shape that you want it to be. You can do this by first marking out the shape on the oak with a pencil before using the saw to cut along this line.

To do this, measure the wood piece against the template you have drawn up. Then line up your saw directly on top of this template, making sure that they are both perfectly straight before beginning to cut through them both.

Use an angle grinder to sand down any rough edges that may have been created by using your saw. If there are still some rough edges after using your angle grinder, use sandpaper to finish off these edges before painting them with a primer coat.

Last Words

If you choose to work with oak, it’s important to learn the twists and turns of this wood type. Next, you need to do a few beginner wood carving projects to perfect your carving skills. Wood carving can be a fun, engaging activity for hobbyists of all levels of experience.

Happy carving!

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Business

PepsiCo Reduces Revenue Projections As North American Snacks And Key International Markets Underperform.

(VOR News) – In the third quarter of this year, Pepsi’s net income was $2.93 billion, which is equivalent to $2.13 per share. This was attributed to the company.

This is in stark contrast to net income of $3.09 billion, which is equivalent to $2.24 per share, during the same period in the previous year. The company’s earnings per share were $2.31 when expenses were excluded.

Net sales decreased by 0.6%, totaling $23.32 billion. Organic sales increased by 1.3% during the quarter when the effects of acquisitions, divestitures, and currency changes are excluded.

Pepsi’s beverage sales fell this quarter.

The most recent report indicates that the beverage and food sectors of the organization experienced a 2% decline in volume. Consumers of all income levels are demonstrating a change in their purchasing habits, as indicated by CEOs’ statements from the previous quarter.

Pepsi’s entire volume was adversely affected by the lackluster demand they encountered in North America. An increasing number of Americans are becoming more frugal, reducing the number of snacks they ingest, and reducing the number of times they purchase at convenience stores.

Furthermore, Laguarta observed that the increase in sales was partially attributed to the election that occurred in Mexico during the month of June.

The most significant decrease in volume was experienced by Quaker Foods North America, which was 13%. In December, the company announced its initial recall in response to a potential salmonella infection.

Due to the probability of an illness, the recall was extended in January. Pepsi officially closed a plant that was implicated in the recalls in June, despite the fact that manufacturing had already been halted.

Jamie Caulfield, the Chief Financial Officer of Pepsi and Laguarta, has indicated that the recalls are beginning to have a lessening effect.

Frito-Lay experienced a 1.5% decline in volume in North America. The company has been striving to improve the value it offers to consumers and the accessibility of its snack line, which includes SunChips, Cheetos, and Stacy’s pita chips, in the retail establishments where it is sold.

Despite the fact that the category as a whole has slowed down in comparison to the results of previous years, the level of activity within the division is progressively increasing.

Pepsi executives issued a statement in which they stated that “Salty and savory snacks have underperformed year-to-date after outperforming packaged food categories in previous years.”

Pepsi will spend more on Doritos and Tostitos in the fall and winter before football season.

The company is currently promoting incentive packets for Tostitos and Ruffles, which contain twenty percent more chips than the standard package.

Pepsi is expanding its product line in order to more effectively target individuals who are health-conscious. The business announced its intention to acquire Siete Foods for a total of $1.2 billion approximately one week ago. The restaurant serves Mexican-American cuisine, which is typically modified to meet the dietary needs of a diverse clientele.

The beverage segment of Pepsi in North America experienced a three percent decrease in volume. Despite the fact that the demand for energy drinks, such as Pepsi’s Rockstar, has decreased as a result of consumers visiting convenience stores, the sales of well-known brands such as Gatorade and Pepsi have seen an increase throughout the quarter.

Laguarta expressed his opinion to the analysts during the company’s conference call, asserting, “I am of the opinion that it is a component of the economic cycle that we are currently experiencing, and that it will reverse itself in the future, once consumers feel better.”

Additionally, it has been noted that the food and beverage markets of South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa have experienced a decline in sales volume. The company cut its forecast for organic revenue for the entire year on Tuesday due to the business’s second consecutive quarter of lower-than-anticipated sales.

The company’s performance during the quarter was adversely affected by the Quaker Foods North America recalls, the decrease in demand in the United States, and the interruptions that occurred in specific international markets, as per the statements made by Chief Executive Officer Ramon Laguarta.

Pepsi has revised its forecast for organic sales in 2024, shifting from a 4% growth rate to a low single-digit growth rate. The company reiterated its expectation that the core constant currency profitability per share will increase by a minimum of 8% in comparison to the previous year.

The company’s shares declined by less than one percent during premarket trading. The following discrepancies between the company’s report and the projections of Wall Street were identified by LSEG in a survey of analysts:

SOURCE: CNBC

Business

Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.

(VOR News) – Old National Bank, a commercial bank with its headquarters in the Midwest, and Infosys, a firm that specializes in information technology, have recently entered into a strategic expansion of their link, which has been in place for the past four years.

This expansion is more likely to take place sooner rather than later, with the likelihood being higher.

For the purpose of making it possible for Old National Bank to make use of the services, solutions, and platforms that are offered by Infosys, the objective of this expansion is to make it possible for the bank to transform its operations and processes through the application of automation and GenAI, as well as to change significant business areas.

This lets the bank leverage Infosys’ services, solutions, and platforms.

Old National Bank Chairman and CEO Jim Ryan said, “At Old National, we are committed to creating exceptional experiences for both our customers and our fellow employees.”

This statement is applicable to Old National Bank. Infosys is carefully managing the business process innovations that it is putting us through, putting a strong emphasis on efficiency and value growth throughout the process to ensure that it is carried out efficiently.

This is a routine occurrence throughout the entire operation. Because of Infosys’ dedication to our development and success, we are incredibly appreciative of the assistance they have provided.

Old National has been receiving assistance from Infosys in the process of updating its digital environment since the year 2020, according to the aforementioned company.

Ever since that time, the company has been providing assistance. The provision of this assistance has been accomplished through the utilization of a model that is not only powerful but also capable of functioning on its own power.

Infosys currently ranks Old National thirty-first out of the top thirty US banks.

This ranking is based on the fact that Old National is the nation’s largest banking corporation.

It is estimated that the total value of the company’s assets is approximately fifty-three billion dollars, while the assets that are currently being managed by the organization are valued at thirty billion dollars.

Dennis Gada, the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Banking and Financial Services, stated that “Old National Bank and Infosys possess a robust cultural and strategic alignment in the development, management, and enhancement of enterprise-scale solutions to transform the bank’s operations and facilitate growth.”

This remark referenced the exceptional cultural and strategic synergy between the two organizations. Dennis Gada is the one who asserted this claim. This was articulated explicitly concerning the exceptional cultural congruence and strategy alignment of the two organizations.

We are pleased to announce that the implementation of Infosys Topaz will substantially expedite the transformation of Old National Bank’s business processes and customer service protocols. We are exceedingly enthusiastic about this matter. We are quite thrilled about this specific component of the scenario.

Medium-sized banks operating regionally will continue to benefit from our substantial expertise in the sector, technology, and operations. This specific market segment of Infosys will persist in benefiting from our extensive experience. This phenomenon will enable this market sector to sustain substantial growth and efficiency benefits.

SOURCE: THBL

News

Google’s Search Dominance Is Unwinding, But Still Accounting 48% Search Revenue

Google is so closely associated with its key product that its name is a verb that signifies “search.” However, Google’s dominance in that sector is dwindling.

According to eMarketer, Google will lose control of the US search industry for the first time in decades next year.

Google will remain the dominant search player, accounting for 48% of American search advertising revenue. And, remarkably, Google is still increasing its sales in the field, despite being the dominating player in search since the early days of the George W. Bush administration. However, Amazon is growing at a quicker rate.

Google’s Search Dominance Is Unwinding

Amazon will hold over a quarter of US search ad dollars next year, rising to 27% by 2026, while Google will fall even more, according to eMarketer.

The Wall Street Journal was first to report on the forecast.

Lest you think you’ll have to switch to Bing or Yahoo, this isn’t the end of Google or anything really near.

Google is the fourth-most valued public firm in the world. Its market worth is $2.1 trillion, trailing just Apple, Microsoft, and the AI chip darling Nvidia. It also maintains its dominance in other industries, such as display advertisements, where it dominates alongside Facebook’s parent firm Meta, and video ads on YouTube.

To put those “other” firms in context, each is worth more than Delta Air Lines’ total market value. So, yeah, Google is not going anywhere.

Nonetheless, Google faces numerous dangers to its operations, particularly from antitrust regulators.

On Monday, a federal judge in San Francisco ruled that Google must open up its Google Play Store to competitors, dealing a significant blow to the firm in its long-running battle with Fortnite creator Epic Games. Google announced that it would appeal the verdict.

In August, a federal judge ruled that Google has an illegal monopoly on search. That verdict could lead to the dissolution of the company’s search operation. Another antitrust lawsuit filed last month accuses Google of abusing its dominance in the online advertising business.

Meanwhile, European regulators have compelled Google to follow tough new standards, which have resulted in multiple $1 billion-plus fines.

Pixa Bay

Google’s Search Dominance Is Unwinding

On top of that, the marketplace is becoming more difficult on its own.

TikTok, the fastest-growing social network, is expanding into the search market. And Amazon has accomplished something few other digital titans have done to date: it has established a habit.

When you want to buy anything, you usually go to Amazon, not Google. Amazon then buys adverts to push companies’ products to the top of your search results, increasing sales and earning Amazon a greater portion of the revenue. According to eMarketer, it is expected to generate $27.8 billion in search revenue in the United States next year, trailing only Google’s $62.9 billion total.

And then there’s AI, the technology that (supposedly) will change everything.

Why search in stilted language for “kendall jenner why bad bunny breakup” or “police moving violation driver rights no stop sign” when you can just ask OpenAI’s ChatGPT, “What’s going on with Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny?” in “I need help fighting a moving violation involving a stop sign that wasn’t visible.” Google is working on exactly this technology with its Gemini product, but its success is far from guaranteed, especially with Apple collaborating with OpenAI and other businesses rapidly joining the market.

A Google spokeswoman referred to a blog post from last week in which the company unveiled ads in its AI overviews (the AI-generated text that appears at the top of search results). It’s Google’s way of expressing its ability to profit on a changing marketplace while retaining its business, even as its consumers steadily transition to ask-and-answer AI and away from search.

google

Google has long used a single catchphrase to defend itself against opponents who claim it is a monopoly abusing its power: competition is only a click away. Until recently, that seemed comically obtuse. Really? We are going to switch to Bing? Or Duck Duck Go? Give me a break.

But today, it feels more like reality.

Google is in no danger of disappearing. However, every highly dominating company faces some type of reckoning over time. GE, a Dow mainstay for more than a century, was broken up last year and is now a shell of its previous dominance. Sears declared bankruptcy in 2022 and is virtually out of business. US Steel, long the foundation of American manufacturing, is attempting to sell itself to a Japanese corporation.

Could we remember Google in the same way that we remember Yahoo or Ask Jeeves in decades? These next few years could be significant.

SOURCE | CNN