Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Nasr on July 12, 2020, 09:45:50 am

Title: Hickory trees fell in a storm
Post by: Nasr on July 12, 2020, 09:45:50 am
 Hello so I have two hickory trees that have fallen due to a storm and one has some serious rot in the middle and the other one does not. They both had what seemed like healthy green leaves. Should i waste my time with the rotted one. I dont want the wood to go to waste. I have already cut and split the healthy looking one into staves but the other i have to touched until i make sure. If not i will just cut up and get rid of it. The rot is pretty serious like most of the heart wood is rotted out.
Title: Re: Hickory trees fell in a storm
Post by: Pat B on July 12, 2020, 10:20:33 am
A lot of times a tree will start rotting in the center. This doesn't mean the rest of the wood is infected. Most bow wood in a hickory tree is in the 2" below the bark. If that wood looks good and white without other discoloration I'd say it's worth harvesting. I would mark those staves so later if you find out they are indeed infected you'll know which ones to discard.
Title: Re: Hickory trees fell in a storm
Post by: bownarra on July 12, 2020, 11:42:55 am
Split it and check the sapwood out. if it looks clear keep them.
Title: Re: Hickory trees fell in a storm
Post by: TRiggs on July 12, 2020, 12:35:17 pm
I would split it, even if you can't get a bow from it you can have a ton of awesome BBQ wood.
Title: Re: Hickory trees fell in a storm
Post by: Dances with squirrels on July 12, 2020, 01:47:29 pm
Hard to add anything to the advice above.  :OK
Title: Re: Hickory trees fell in a storm
Post by: Hawkdancer on July 13, 2020, 11:43:51 pm
Good for smoking hides, too!  Cool smoke, though (lol)!  Do the BBQ, then hook up about 20 feet of pipe or metal dryer vent hose to the smoking rack.
Hawkdancer
Title: Re: Hickory trees fell in a storm
Post by: Nasr on July 14, 2020, 05:59:35 am
so the rot is pretty extensive but i will be getting some billets out of it and some branches. The rest i will keep for firewood and other non bowyer related stuff. It is still a pretty large haul with the tree that was not rotted. I will be good for quite some time. I appreciate the advice i was thinking of using some of the rotted tree staves and drying them in a heat box to make a bow and see what happens.