Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: The Gopher on November 18, 2009, 11:28:17 pm

Title: Wood ID
Post by: The Gopher on November 18, 2009, 11:28:17 pm

A friend of mine gave me a log he obtained, the guy whose land he got it from said it was hickory, but i don't know of any smooth barked hickory, am i wrong about that? The bark is smooth with real small furrows. the bark is also only about 3/16" thick total. this came from mid-western wisconsin. the log was straight, and split very very easily and straight. the bark reminds me of maple, but the wood reminds me of ash. what do you think?

(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b194/MN_Littles/105_5683.jpg)

(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b194/MN_Littles/105_5682.jpg)

Title: Re: Wood ID
Post by: cowboy on November 18, 2009, 11:37:28 pm

That looks just like hick to me. Maybe it grew fast and the bark didn't have a chance to get thick and rough.

Title: Re: Wood ID
Post by: The Gopher on November 18, 2009, 11:42:24 pm

it was a smaller diameter tree. i'm not a tree guy and i don't have much hickory around me and the ones that are are real big with the deeply furrowed bark or scaley. does hickory split that easily and straight?

Title: Re: Wood ID
Post by: cowboy on November 18, 2009, 11:49:01 pm

All of it I've cut split really easy. I split it while green and sopping wet. The split side looks like hick too with some of the fibers hanging out. I'd say you've got some good staves there.

Title: Re: Wood ID
Post by: Pat B on November 18, 2009, 11:56:10 pm

It is probably Pignut hickory(Carya glabra). Common in the Eastern US.  Smooth bark in young trees but becoming furrowed with forking ridges.

Title: Re: Wood ID
Post by: The Gopher on November 19, 2009, 12:00:09 am

thanks guys, now i'm excited. i would have made bows from it no matter what it was, but these will be my first hickory bows from staves, made a few hickory board bows and really like them.

 

Title: Re: Wood ID
Post by: The Gopher on November 19, 2009, 12:00:45 am

should i leave the bark on?

Title: Re: Wood ID
Post by: Pat B on November 19, 2009, 12:04:16 am

The bark is going to be hard to get off this time of year but it will be easier while it is green. When it dries it is very tedious to remove. Some don't think it necessary but any time I remove bark I spray the back with shellac, just for giggles.  ;)

Title: Re: Wood ID
Post by: sailordad on November 19, 2009, 12:06:32 am

its almost like trying to get the bark off of a hhb stave
i have one right now(hhb) that i have spent about 6 hrs trying to get he bark and most the cambium off of
still not finished,but i do it between knapping sessions.

Title: Re: Wood ID
Post by: Hillbilly on November 19, 2009, 07:57:12 am

Looks like mockernut hickory, or maybe a young pignut or bitternut. Definitely hickory.

Title: Re: Wood ID
Post by: Pappy on November 19, 2009, 08:54:02 am

Looks like Hickory to me.Nice log. :)
   Pappy

Title: Re: Wood ID
Post by: The Gopher on November 20, 2009, 10:31:42 am

thanks again guys.

this is a problem for me, most (all) tree books and field guides that i have seen only show mature trees, but younger trees (especially the bark) can look totally different than mature trees.

Title: Re: Wood ID
Post by: denny on November 22, 2009, 04:13:06 pm

we call that tight bark hickory here in penna. Denny