i need help on stave's

[cowboy]

that's three different trees there Ronnie - that one is David (Ridgerunner) in AL. I tried splitting an elm last week and had to give up - take it to the table saw to chew on it for awhile. I haven't attacked the hackberry yet but am sure it'll be a bear.

[cracker]

I made some long thin wedges out of some ar400 plate that work really well on tugh wood. If you would like to try some let me know.Ron

[El Destructo]

    Elm is a Biotch with it's interlocking Grain....I would rather Split Hedge all day than any Elm Tree!!! I always use my Wedges          and a Bow Saw....  the Saw to cut the Interlocks....so the Log will split easier....saves a lot of energy....and in My Case RAGE!!!
                             And Cowboy...Hackberry is also pretty Tough.....but not so bad as Elm!!

        Be careful Shooter......and try another Snatch Strap....they have more give....and won't snap like a Chain will

[Eric Krewson]

I started out like you, thinking any osage had bow making potential. I brought a bunch of stuff home that was really firewood not bow wood. Most of the stuff in your truck is not bow wood. Look for at least 4" diameter, 36" or longer(for billets), trunks or limbs without branches.

One tends to get excited about finding the yellow wood, especially if you don't have any. Having pulled a bunch out of brush piles myself, I found out pretty quickly what was worth the effort and what was just junk.

[Shooter_G22]

here is the split pic..

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[Shooter_G22]

another pic

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[ballista]

 well... its worth a shot, i'd definetly check to see if they had any thicker hunks, but i'm sure you can make a caveman bow from what I saw in that pickup bed. good luck man, keep us posted. -jimmy

[cowboy]

Looks like thier may be a billet or two in there Shooter. May have to chase em down toward the center to get out of those cracks. Hard to tell without being there . I'd probably go ahead and cut the log below the knot, split those two section's in half then split right up that crack (like a piggy back stave) then start chasing a ring on the inner part of the log.

[El Destructo]

                                                      Still Looks Like Firewood to Me..........