american hornbeam question

[bluegill68]

A friend of mine has cut a log and has it split. He is telling me that it is hard to tell how much bark to remove to get to the back. So how do you know when you are there? with hickory and the like, the cambium is really pretty easy to differentiate.

I am not familiar with this wood at all.

Any ideas? 

[HickoryBill]

The am hornbeam iv used is just about like peeling and sealing any other whitewood..Except for all the crevices and humps and bumps..Is the wood still Green? And when you do get the bark off make sure ya seal the back real good and the ends of course.

[bluegill68]

Would Hop Hornbeam be different I am starting to wonder if there has been an ID issue?

[TacticalFate]

If your log has smooth bark, it's American Hornbeam. If it has flakey bark, its Eastern hophornbeam. Easy enough

[PEARL DRUMS]

They generally grow near each other. 

[HickoryBill]

Whats the bark look like?

[bluegill68]

All,

Thanks for the responses, I do not have the staves. I know only they were cut in SE Missouri and that my friend is having trouble knowing how much to take off to get to the back of the bow.


Sean

[beetlebailey1977]

With the American HB it is best to peel the bark as soon as you can......will it is still wet.  Otherwise it is hell to remove it with all the ripples and ridges.  (muscles) aka musclewood.  You do not have to seal the back just the ends real well.