Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: DLH on July 01, 2013, 11:18:27 pm

Title: Front yard Sugar Maple
Post by: DLH on July 01, 2013, 11:18:27 pm
This is how I spent the weekend trying to wrestle this sugar maple into submission almost bit off more than I could chew. Ended up breaking the handle out of a splitting wedge the hardest part was getting the first split went smooth after that. The log was around 21-22 in in diameter and I split it up into 1/8s kinda they still are too big to move around with ease that's for sure. I think I am going to split them some more in 6 months. What about belly splits would that be an option once they have dried out some and split easier? Will I be able to chase a ring on the belly splits? Heres some pictures.

(http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l491/dnl17694/AB7DDF9E-2AA7-48EF-8643-088EB73FBF06-246-0000002BB1DA05A7_zpsd377a6a3.jpg) (http://s1120.photobucket.com/user/dnl17694/media/AB7DDF9E-2AA7-48EF-8643-088EB73FBF06-246-0000002BB1DA05A7_zpsd377a6a3.jpg.html)

(http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l491/dnl17694/59A89FE3-E5F6-41E8-9149-C4E64A80EF37-246-0000002BC40F3E0F_zpsfb3571da.jpg) (http://s1120.photobucket.com/user/dnl17694/media/59A89FE3-E5F6-41E8-9149-C4E64A80EF37-246-0000002BC40F3E0F_zpsfb3571da.jpg.html)

(http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l491/dnl17694/0853990A-8664-461F-A509-9C1F5D244830-246-0000002BD8341FC6_zpscc4755cf.jpg) (http://s1120.photobucket.com/user/dnl17694/media/0853990A-8664-461F-A509-9C1F5D244830-246-0000002BD8341FC6_zpscc4755cf.jpg.html)

Here is what I think will be a really cool stave in a couple years.

(http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l491/dnl17694/9194F373-E064-4C6F-B59F-4305246418C6-246-0000002BEFE3CC40_zpsd5a86b9a.jpg) (http://s1120.photobucket.com/user/dnl17694/media/9194F373-E064-4C6F-B59F-4305246418C6-246-0000002BEFE3CC40_zpsd5a86b9a.jpg.html)

(http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l491/dnl17694/1AFCA7D5-617E-41E2-A820-0D5C9DD344E8-246-0000002BFFB39590_zps820e7b7c.jpg) (http://s1120.photobucket.com/user/dnl17694/media/1AFCA7D5-617E-41E2-A820-0D5C9DD344E8-246-0000002BFFB39590_zps820e7b7c.jpg.html)

This is what I ended up with at the end of it all.

(http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l491/dnl17694/E87F7472-9516-4DCE-990E-163ECEB514F3-246-0000002C10DDC1B3_zps93489b15.jpg) (http://s1120.photobucket.com/user/dnl17694/media/E87F7472-9516-4DCE-990E-163ECEB514F3-246-0000002C10DDC1B3_zps93489b15.jpg.html)

Thanks,

Daniel
Title: Re: Front yard Sugar Maple
Post by: osage outlaw on July 01, 2013, 11:41:17 pm
Looks like some nice maple.  I bet you worked up a sweat splitting it. 
Title: Re: Front yard Sugar Maple
Post by: Pat B on July 01, 2013, 11:43:42 pm
Nice haul. There are belly splits to be had there for sure.
 I would remove the tarp though. You want as much air circulation around the staves as you can get.
Title: Re: Front yard Sugar Maple
Post by: Joec123able on July 01, 2013, 11:47:18 pm
Wow thats a big log it should easily yield 16+ staves
Title: Re: Front yard Sugar Maple
Post by: osage outlaw on July 01, 2013, 11:50:02 pm
Did you seal the backs and ends?
Title: Re: Front yard Sugar Maple
Post by: TRACY on July 01, 2013, 11:55:14 pm
You're an animal Daniel, ;D great looking haul!


Tracy
Title: Re: Front yard Sugar Maple
Post by: Hamish on July 02, 2013, 12:03:24 am
When you recover from that big effort, I would continue to split off the bellies. Big sections of white wood hold a lot of moisture for a long time. Leaving them that size in summer you risk fungi, and checking when the outside dries much faster than the inside. Ditto about the tarp.
Sweet haul, looking forward to seeing the bows.
                                                                       Hamish.
Title: Re: Front yard Sugar Maple
Post by: Thesquirrelslinger on July 02, 2013, 12:03:42 am
Holy snot that is one huge log.
I thought you were going to try to make billets out of at first!
Belly splits are possible. Maple is diffuse-ring-porus, which means its gonna be really, really hard to chase a ring in it.
If you can get it down to only 2-3 runouts, it will work(I have made one... screwed up tillering)
Title: Re: Front yard Sugar Maple
Post by: DLH on July 02, 2013, 09:14:31 am
Yes I sealed the back and ends did the ends twice they seem to give me the most trouble before. What's the best way to go about belly splits small wedges made from wood? I will remove the tarp thanks everyone.
Title: Re: Front yard Sugar Maple
Post by: osage outlaw on July 02, 2013, 09:27:32 am
When I split osage belly splits off I use the same wedges that I use for busting the log up with.  I start the split with a hatchet and put the wedges in from alternating sides as I go down the stave.
Title: Re: Front yard Sugar Maple
Post by: blackhawk on July 02, 2013, 12:07:58 pm
Sweet Dan...that shouldn't have been much of a problem for a young man such as your self  :laugh:
Title: Re: Front yard Sugar Maple
Post by: DLH on July 02, 2013, 03:03:51 pm
Haha it wasn't bad Chris once I got a sledge and it was split in half it could half definitely went a whole lot worse
Title: Re: Front yard Sugar Maple
Post by: BowSlayer on July 02, 2013, 06:21:18 pm
SWEET haul.  i have just got 5 wedges from a yard sale for  £3 so im going to work on splitting some maple with a 8" diamitre. which is nothing compared to what you done. Good job ;D
Title: Re: Front yard Sugar Maple
Post by: Danzn Bar on July 02, 2013, 08:38:32 pm
That's some mighty nice maple staves.  Yes I do see some belly splits there.
Title: Re: Front yard Sugar Maple
Post by: toomanyknots on July 02, 2013, 08:42:05 pm
Nice haul. There are belly splits to be had there for sure.
 I would remove the tarp though. You want as much air circulation around the staves as you can get.

I second removing the tarp, they might get moldy or mildewy.
Title: Re: Front yard Sugar Maple
Post by: Thesquirrelslinger on July 02, 2013, 08:43:43 pm
I will bet there will be pretty low back crown on most of those staves ;)