« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2

Author Topic: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet  (Read 4733 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline redboard

  • Member
  • Posts: 40
Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
« on: April 10, 2014, 06:08:31 pm »
About 3 months ago, whilst upset with my lovely wife, I meandered out of doors, happened across a sharp axe, and used it on one of probably 40 Japanese ligustrum trees in my back yard. I didn't mean to chop it down, but the bite of the axe-head into green shrubbery just felt right.

It musta been providence, cause now I've been infected with some sort of bow-building virus/bug (no known cure) and I have a ruddy big log that I'm gonna split into staves. The main trunk is a good 7 feet long, 8-9" diameter and straight at a stove-pipe.

What's the worst that could happen?
Logged

Offline DarkSoul

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,315
    • Orion Bows
Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
« Reply #1 on: April 10, 2014, 06:11:07 pm »
It could fall onto your head and kill you.
Logged
"Sonuit contento nervus ab arcu."
Ovid, Metamorphoses VI-286

Offline redboard

  • Member
  • Posts: 40
Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
« Reply #2 on: April 10, 2014, 06:20:28 pm »
I'll try to keep that in mind next time I play with axes  ;D
Logged

Offline smoke

  • Member
  • Posts: 270
Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
« Reply #3 on: April 10, 2014, 06:20:53 pm »
Sounds like a karma thing . . . I say go for it!
Logged

Offline bubby

  • Member
  • Posts: 11,054
Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
« Reply #4 on: April 10, 2014, 06:22:14 pm »
I know privet makes a good bow, have fun, but your wife may want to hide the axe and save her yard :laugh:
Logged
failure is an option, everyone fails, it's how you handle it that matters.
The few the proud the 27🏹

Offline DarkSoul

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,315
    • Orion Bows
Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
« Reply #5 on: April 10, 2014, 07:21:28 pm »
All jokes aside...privet is reported to be good bow wood. I don't recall ever seeing a Japanese privet bow, but it's worth a shot. Fell the tree carefully (lol), split the log and seal the ends. I think I'd leave the bark on while drying. Measure the specific gravity and design a bow accordingly.
Logged
"Sonuit contento nervus ab arcu."
Ovid, Metamorphoses VI-286

Offline Wiley

  • Member
  • Posts: 182
Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
« Reply #6 on: April 10, 2014, 08:30:20 pm »
Did you seal the ends of the log and get it out of the elements?
Logged

Offline criveraville

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,210
  • Psalm 127:4
Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
« Reply #7 on: April 10, 2014, 09:13:49 pm »
Welcome. May I recommend anger management or meditations?  :laugh:

Cipriano
Logged
I was HECHO EN MEXICO, but assembled in Texas and I'm Texican as the day is long...  Psalm 127:4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,637
Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
« Reply #8 on: April 10, 2014, 09:48:51 pm »
Privet checks easily so seal it well and soon. It is very hard wood and makes good arrows so it should make a good bow too.
Logged
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline redboard

  • Member
  • Posts: 40
Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
« Reply #9 on: April 11, 2014, 10:54:46 am »
The tree is already down, but off the ground. I need to cut out the usable main trunk as its still just a whole tree...
And those things are like weeds here in Texas.

Logged

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,637
Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
« Reply #10 on: April 11, 2014, 11:24:02 am »
How long have they been down? Privet decays really fast once cut if not handled properly.
Logged
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline redboard

  • Member
  • Posts: 40
Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
« Reply #11 on: April 11, 2014, 11:33:22 am »
I think its been down a couple of months. If its decaying when I cut out the trunk, I won't bother, but I've cut tons of this stuff down and haven't found it to degrade almost at all over time.
Logged

Offline criveraville

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,210
  • Psalm 127:4
Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
« Reply #12 on: April 11, 2014, 01:21:17 pm »
Where in Texas are you located redboard?

Cipriano
Logged
I was HECHO EN MEXICO, but assembled in Texas and I'm Texican as the day is long...  Psalm 127:4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

Offline redboard

  • Member
  • Posts: 40
Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
« Reply #13 on: April 13, 2014, 02:42:57 pm »
Waco
Logged

Offline criveraville

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,210
  • Psalm 127:4
Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
« Reply #14 on: April 13, 2014, 03:30:54 pm »
I'm not too far from Waco. Let's see a pic of that trunk.
Logged
I was HECHO EN MEXICO, but assembled in Texas and I'm Texican as the day is long...  Psalm 127:4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
Pages: [1] 2
« previous next »