Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Lucasade on September 10, 2014, 06:00:49 pm

Title: Central pith
Post by: Lucasade on September 10, 2014, 06:00:49 pm

I felled an ash tree for a client today and she let me take a half log. I've roughed it out enough to actually pick it up, but I'm not sure whether I need to remove all of the central pith before I put it away to season?

Title: Re: Central pith
Post by: Pat B on September 10, 2014, 06:54:24 pm

I don't know about ash but I've seen other woods check down the pith as they dried. Can you split it in half?

Title: Re: Central pith
Post by: Lucasade on September 11, 2014, 03:23:53 am

I'm not quite sure I understand what you mean - I split the log in half on site then squared it off with hatchet and drawknife when I got home. There's still pith on about a third of its length but it got dark. It would probably only take about 10 more minutes with the drawknife to get the last bits out but I just wondered whether that's necessary?

You may have realised I'm new to this business...

Title: Re: Central pith
Post by: Del the cat on September 11, 2014, 04:00:41 am

AFIK it doesn't matter in the slightest... I've seasoned Elder with huge pith channels exposed along the split no prob.
I like the dark pith line in Yew, it's natures centre line :laugh:
Del

Title: Re: Central pith
Post by: DC on September 11, 2014, 12:31:45 pm

What are you meaning by "pith"? What part of the tree?

Title: Re: Central pith
Post by: Lucasade on September 11, 2014, 03:01:17 pm

The thin strip of soft tissue running down the very centre:

(http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/jj535/lucasade2/imagejpg1_zps8d13eb1c.jpg)

(http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj535/lucasade2/imagejpg2_zpse3706304.jpg)

The bottom third of the stave still has it as you can see.

Title: Re: Central pith
Post by: DC on September 11, 2014, 03:12:29 pm

OK just checking. Something in my pea brain just thought you might be referring to something else. I'm all right now :-[. I'm not sure about Ash either, but it would only take a second to get rid of it and I can't see it hurting anything.

Title: Re: Central pith
Post by: Lucasade on September 11, 2014, 04:32:44 pm

That's what I'm thinking. I'll get the drawknife back out tomorrow.

Title: Re: Central pith
Post by: simson on September 12, 2014, 05:18:29 am

I see no problem seasoning that stave. I have about hundred looking just as yours. They are now from 1 - 6 years seasoned, no checking.

Title: Re: Central pith
Post by: Perkinator on September 12, 2014, 03:43:57 pm

I have a stave that is hollow in the middle from being a home to ants. It was hollow black and full of sweet oil. I hope it wont make a difference.