Is Lilac a carving wood

[BasketballJones]

We have lilac trees and roses climbing a chain-linked fenceas a backyard border. *The trees are about 30 years old and never grew much *as they were mature. *A year and a half ago I trimmed/pruned several. *It was like giving them steroids.
The wife, animals, and bees love the blooming lilacs and roses. *Needless to say neither three mow grass. *The liliacs are muscling through the fence, getting larger in diameter. *I cut a 3'' wide piece, which was the branch that kept hitting me in the head while cutting the grass. *I got a pocketknife, peeled back the bark and found a very multi-toned, smooth wood tone that I think wood (would) look good naturally stained. *The lilac has a heart, I counted 35 + rings. *It is hard (refer to head).

Is it carveable? *I have researched and found nothing pro or con as a reference to carving liliac, so I am assuming it is not considered a carving wood. * Though it was green and soft, I am going to dry it and see how it checks. *Thanks

Ken

seal the ends so it dries slower and it may or may not crack...let it dry and take a knife to it!! That's one sure way to find out lol

Anything is carvable, look at those people that do marble and granite, and that idiot that posts here sometimes that carves elm :

[macktruck]

Yeah it's carvable.it's hard . seal the ends like Hi Ho said. Take a wax toilet seal and heat it in a coffe can and dip the ends. It might be easier to power carve on it.
macktruck

[BasketballJones]

Well after almost a month it hasn't checked but after I peeled the bark away, I still have paper thin strands of wood peeling down the length as it dries. I'm not sure if it will be workeable but it will be intetersting to watch the results. That sounds so sad but I really do have a life.

Funny you should post this question as I was given two pieces of Lilac by a friend of mine who had trimmed his tree. It was in really good shape and I was going to make hiking staffs out of it. Trouble was I peeled it and went back two days later and it had checked worse than any wood I have ever seen. So I guess I will do as the others say and seal the ends before I try the other piece. I agree it is beautiful wood inside too bad it checks so bad. Dont have to appolgize we know you have a life you are a woodcarver.
Colin

I think you probably want to seal the ends and leave the bark on for awhile...maybe 6 months?...with the bark removed, doesn't help a lot to be sealed...allows the moisture to escape from the sides of the stick.

[BasketballJones]

Let me know how yours turns out. I agree underneath that bark is a nice contrasting colored look that would look great naturally stained. I've never seen anything check like this, so my guess is that this is a stringy type of wood, but I can't figure out then how it could be so hard.

Ken