[big_Wayne_P]

Ossage Orange (Bodark) is fine if you do not intend to carve it

Very hard wood amd will be fine if you just intend to strip the bark and finish
but will be a bugger to carve

[Clifford_Parker]

I think we need to clear up a few things here. Since my main carving focus is sticks I have researched a LOT.

Sumac toxicity:

Red Sumac (Rhus Glabra) and Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) do not contain urushiol and are not toxic while Poison Sumac (Rhus Vernix) does contain it and will cause an allergic reaction in the 90% of the population with sensitivity. This reaction can range from mild dermatitis to anaphylactic shock depending on the individual sensitivity and the amount of urushiol. Leaf shape and fruit are a good way to tell the difference as Red and Staghorn Sumac have thinner leaves and red berry clusters while Poison Sumac has rounder and wider leaves with white berries.


Diamond Willow:

While there are several species of willow that can develope diamonds, finding Diamond Willow is not as simple as just finding the "right species". I have spent too many hours wading through swamps looking at every clump of willow only to find that all of them were without diamonds to say that getting DW is easy. If you find willow with diamonds then there will usually be more in that area but I have also found stands of willow where there were only one or two shoots with cankers while others seem to have them on every shoot.

Bob,
Examine those willows closely and look for flat spots or depressions on the bark and then strip a few to see if the diamonds are there. If not you at least have some good willow sticks to carve.

[Colin_Partridge]

Bob,
If you are at Kitchener next year I will bring you some diamond willow if not if you are having your open house next year I will bring some with me. I have access to as much diamond willow as you can shake a stick at, no pun intended.
Colin

[Hugh]

Bob, you mentioned that you piled a lot of diamond willow to burn. The government cleaned the sides of the road by my home, I discovered this fall that a lot of the bushes that were cut, and left lying there were diamond willow, I put a few of them in the shop, the bark was peeling from lying in the weather, but the sticks are great, a little browner than the fresh cut ones, but they are great. They cleaned up nicely. They have been there 1 1/2 yrs.

[Mike-in-WV]

Wild Cherrie, River Birch, Red Bud, Mayple, Sassafras, Poplar, Bass Wood, Walnut. I also like Diamond Willow when it's really dry and that takes awhile.

[big_Wayne_P]

2 left feet
rather than buying the diamond Willow off of EBay
may i suggest that you contact
Gene Bremmer
http://diamondwillowwood.tripod.com

He has some great Diamond Willow and great prices as well

[Mitchell]

I had a picture of a woodspirit in Sweetgum carved by Allen Goodman. He is from North Carolina and currently spends his weeks at Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers in western Tennesse. Thought I would add it to this thread for reference.

[Mitchell]

Here's more...

[Ky_Whittler]

There will never be any doubt as to who that carver is unless he changes his style drastically. I love those big honkers on them. Never thought of doing them that way myself. Jimmy Durante wood spirits LOL Whittler

[Colin_Partridge]

Thanks for the pictures Mitchell wonderful sticks that sweet gum looks great to carve. Unfortunatly we dont have any up here in Canada just lots of diamond willow boy life is rough
Colin