Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: eastcreekarchery on November 15, 2020, 11:01:24 am

Title: Is this wood good to use?
Post by: eastcreekarchery on November 15, 2020, 11:01:24 am
Hickory stave with some decay I think. The decay seems to extend half an inch below the first growth ring.
Title: Re: Is this wood good to use?
Post by: Eric Garza on November 15, 2020, 11:52:41 am
I would put that into the burn pile. Gotta take good care of white woods for them to yield good bows. Fungi, rot, bugs mean the end of them.
Title: Re: Is this wood good to use?
Post by: Pat B on November 15, 2020, 02:32:31 pm
EastCreek, what is this stave's history?    Like Eric said whitewoods are very susceptible to rot if not handled properly off the stump. It's fungi's job in nature to break down dead wood and fungi is an expert at it's job.  ;)
Title: Re: Is this wood good to use?
Post by: Digital Caveman on November 15, 2020, 03:22:20 pm
Could you work it down to a ring without rot, or just cut off the damaged part and back it?
Title: Re: Is this wood good to use?
Post by: Hamish on November 15, 2020, 03:37:48 pm
Do you know the history of the stave? ie did you cut it from a live tree? How was it stored?  This is important because sometimes its bluestain, which looks and smells bad but is only cosmetic. Happens when cut in summer, during high humidity. Other times the damage is structural, more likely if the tree was dead standing, or left out in the open after being felled.

At the least I would go down deep enough to not have any visible fungi showing.
Title: Re: Is this wood good to use?
Post by: eastcreekarchery on November 15, 2020, 04:39:43 pm
The log was another burn pile rescue. So im not surprised its decaying already. Ill try ring chasing but the rings are real fine n hard to see
Title: Re: Is this wood good to use?
Post by: scp on November 15, 2020, 05:25:53 pm
I would rather turn it sideways and treat it as a quarter sawn board.
Title: Re: Is this wood good to use?
Post by: Morgan on November 15, 2020, 06:37:36 pm
Quote from: scp on November 15, 2020, 05:25:53 pm
I would rather turn it sideways and treat it as a quarter sawn board.

This. It is worth a shot !
Title: Re: Is this wood good to use?
Post by: Pat B on November 15, 2020, 09:24:41 pm
I'd use it for the BBQ grill, but not for a bow. Fungi doesn't travel a ring at a time. It moves throughout the wood.
Title: Re: Is this wood good to use?
Post by: Eric Krewson on November 15, 2020, 09:53:13 pm
I tried to make a hickory bow out of a log that had been on the ground for a month, the wood didn't show any decay but the wood definitely had lost its hardness and felt chalky. Th estave didn't make it past the floor tiller stage.
Title: Re: Is this wood good to use?
Post by: Hamish on November 16, 2020, 06:01:25 am
Okay knowing the source of the wood is compromised, I agree with the other guys your time is better spent on another stave.
Title: Re: Is this wood good to use?
Post by: eastcreekarchery on November 16, 2020, 10:14:47 am
the wood towards the center of the log looks good though. I'll try that stuff out.
Title: Re: Is this wood good to use?
Post by: Pat B on November 16, 2020, 12:07:45 pm
Do what you want but you have been forewarned.