Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: ksnow on August 31, 2018, 07:41:59 am

Title: Aspen wood
Post by: ksnow on August 31, 2018, 07:41:59 am

Is Aspen wood any good for arrow shafting? We lost a ton of them in the recent storms here in WI and I'd hate to see all the timber just rot.

I know poplar is good, but I believe that is tulip polar. We call the aspen: popple or poplar here in WI.

Thanks,
Kyle

Title: Re: Aspen wood
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on August 31, 2018, 08:33:49 am

I think it would be worth a shot Kyle. It seems I've seen places sell aspen shafts.

Title: Re: Aspen wood
Post by: ksnow on August 31, 2018, 08:34:59 am

There's enough downed aspen to make arrows for the battles at Agincourt, Crecy and Poitiers. I'll cut a few 4 foot lengths and see what I can do out of it.

Kyle

Title: Re: Aspen wood
Post by: Pat B on August 31, 2018, 07:25:54 pm

I have an Art Butner aspen arrow with black walnut self nock and 4 point black walnut footing. If I remember correctly Art likes aspen pretty much for arrows. That would be good enough for me.  :OK

Title: Re: Aspen wood
Post by: JackCrafty on August 31, 2018, 11:39:15 pm

I have found aspen to be very similar to red osier.  Aspen works great for arrow shafts.

Title: Re: Aspen wood
Post by: Hawkdancer on September 01, 2018, 01:07:21 pm

Do you use branches, shoots, blanks cut from lumber, or all of the above? 
Hawkdancer

Title: Re: Aspen wood
Post by: JackCrafty on September 01, 2018, 05:22:29 pm

Use anything that has straight grain and no knots.  Trunks are best.

Title: Re: Aspen wood
Post by: ksnow on September 04, 2018, 05:39:21 am

Thanks everyone. I managed to get to 40 inch pieces of trunk about 24 inches in diameter. Should be an arrow or three in them.

Kyle

Title: Re: Aspen wood
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on September 04, 2018, 08:05:53 am

Nice haul, badger.

Title: Re: Aspen wood
Post by: Pat B on September 04, 2018, 08:24:44 am

For arrows I'd saw those into 2" thick boards, sticker them, store them in a cool dry place and give them 2 years to season. This will give you very stable arrows.

Title: Re: Aspen wood
Post by: Stixnstones on September 07, 2018, 03:06:42 pm

Smashing the "like" button

Title: Re: Aspen wood
Post by: Danzn Bar on September 07, 2018, 05:39:46 pm

go for it Kyle.....
DBar

Title: Re: Aspen wood
Post by: bjrogg on September 07, 2018, 06:38:56 pm

Quote from: ksnow on September 04, 2018, 05:39:21 am

Thanks everyone. I managed to get to 40 inch pieces of trunk about 24 inches in diameter. Should be an arrow or three in them.

Kyle

Or a really heavy spine one.lol be watching this. Looks like it'll take a bunch of popcorn waiting two years though. (-P
Bjrogg

Title: Re: Aspen wood
Post by: Hawkdancer on September 07, 2018, 10:06:11 pm

The picture doesn't look like our mountain aspen or the birch that I know.  Wrong color/type bark.  What is the scientific name?  It does look like good wood, though!  Thanks,
Hawkdancer

Title: Re: Aspen wood
Post by: ksnow on September 10, 2018, 08:25:18 am

Only the two shorter the logs are the aspen, big tooth, Populus grandidentata, best I can tell. The longer log with bark is maple and the half logs are ash.

Kyle

Title: Re: Aspen wood
Post by: Hawkdancer on September 10, 2018, 10:23:46 am

AHA!  The light goes on!  That could explain why the logs don't look like "quakies" - they ain't! )-w( >:D (lol)! 
Hawkdancer