Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: dueb on February 19, 2015, 03:35:07 pm

Title: Tree ID please?
Post by: dueb on February 19, 2015, 03:35:07 pm: This was given to me, don't have any twigs or leaves to help you guys along. Just want to know what it is before I start experimenting.

Also, testing to see if embedded pictures work!
edit: guess they don't.

Anyway here's a link http://imgur.com/a/jGLGZ

by the way, it smelled a whole lot like cedar while debarking it.
Title: Re: Tree ID please?
Post by: wapiti1997 on February 19, 2015, 03:40:30 pm: Looks like sassafras to me.
Title: Re: Tree ID please?
Post by: dueb on February 19, 2015, 03:45:39 pm: Forgot to mention, I'm in southeastern Massachusetts, and the log as well.
Title: Re: Tree ID please?
Post by: Pat B on February 19, 2015, 03:50:46 pm: Is it a conifer of deciduous hardwood?
Title: Re: Tree ID please?
Post by: dueb on February 19, 2015, 03:57:55 pm: I know it was cut during winter and no leaves or needles were present.
Title: Re: Tree ID please?
Post by: Dances with squirrels on February 19, 2015, 04:02:30 pm: I'm going with sassafras as well.

To me it smells 'spicey', like clove perhaps, but not really like cedar. When you said it smelled like cedar, the first thing I thought was arborvitae... but after seeing the pictures, no way.
Title: Re: Tree ID please?
Post by: JonW on February 19, 2015, 06:28:07 pm: Sassafras. Heat a piece up and I bet it smells like warm apple pie.
Title: Re: Tree ID please?
Post by: swamp monkey on February 21, 2015, 11:18:59 am: sassafrass!
Title: Re: Tree ID please?
Post by: dueb on February 21, 2015, 11:44:53 am: I'm convinced! Sassafras it is, Thanks a bunch guys. Now for some experimenting! >:D
Title: Re: Tree ID please?
Post by: owlbait on February 21, 2015, 11:58:14 am: I'm in on the sassafras too. I have a few pieces of it that I'm going to work on this spring. So far, everything I tried turned into walking sticks. ::) KHalverson made me a pyramid bow out of it that shoots real well though. Good luck.
Title: Re: Tree ID please?
Post by: dueb on February 21, 2015, 12:00:40 pm: One question, can it survive unbacked?
Title: Re: Tree ID please?
Post by: wapiti1997 on February 21, 2015, 12:07:31 pm: If you chase a good ring it may survive. It's considered a whitewood and would work best cut during the growing season and simply peel the bark. It's a light weight wood, keep it wide and long as possible.
Title: Re: Tree ID please?
Post by: JonW on February 21, 2015, 01:00:24 pm: This turned out pretty well. I chased a ring for the back.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,41491.msg555139.html#msg555139
Title: Re: Tree ID please?
Post by: swamp monkey on February 25, 2015, 08:44:23 pm: Every unbacked sassafras bow i have ever seen or heard about shoots great for a while but most end up breaking. Do like Wapiti said.