Hey Jim, is the cactus your talking about the giant saquaro cactus thats from the arizona desert? Because I was just wondering if you spelled it wrong cause Id really like to know if you could carve that wood cause i life in arizona, thanks

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

AZ Life, I live in Arizona too, lots of wood to carve! I have a half dozen yucca stalks in my shop, will try them out, haven't done so yet...also Navajo willow, or globe willow carves really well. I am in the Mojave desert not the Sonoran so don't have that many saquaros (altho I have a6 footer in my yard lol) so haven't tried carving one....I have seen plain walking sticks out of them however. Just received some mesquite yesterday and was surprized that it is softer than I thought and may carve well. Hope that gives you some ideas :

[Texas_Jim]

AZ Life,

Yes, it is the saquaro cactus that I am talking about. I ordered one from treelineusa.com and it is somewhat eliptical rather than round. It is very light weight and about 6 feet long with one side very 'woody' that can probably take some low relief carving.
I read that after 15 years the cactus is about 1 ft tall. After 65-75 years it produces it's first branch. It can live up to 200 years. Interesting stuff.