I am new to carving and enjoying it. I started carving with Basswood and found it OK but chippy. My first carving was in some Lilac I had an old tree that died a few years ago. Its was pretty good but hard on the small V tools, actually had to replace the tool. I didn't know it was damaging the tool. Recently I started on some Cottonwood we have a lot of it in New Mexico. It carves like butter and no chipping. I was wondering what woods others carve. I have been doing mostly Caricature carving and wood spirits.