Mulberry, Spalted Mulberry -- Good for carving?

[Tannii]

I've been carving for serveral years. I've used various woods. Often basswood, tupelo for use with power tools; various hardwoods --- white oak, mesquite. But I know nothing about mulberry. I've noticed that there have been some nice pieces of mulberry or spalted mulberry for sale on ebay at very reasonble prices. Could anyone tell me how it carves. Especially with hand tools. I'm presently interested in carving busts with western motif. You know --- cowboys, Indians. I often use basswood for these. How would mulberry work?

[Ashbys]

Mulberry is like all the fruitwoods, Hard- holds detail consider it like apple or pear.

[Thomp]

mulberry is beautiful i dont know if yours is the same as what i had ..

mine was really deep blond color wood and hard as ash or hickory,

yellow the color darkens to a deep mahogany or chestnut color in time within a year. and i dont think theres much you can do about that..

they do carve harder woods like cherry, so its possible..
i never heard of anyone doing it..

but i have made a bunch of tool handles out of it because of its durability

[Tannii]

Thanks for the input. Wink