Big Ern, I am working with some Persimmon right now.
My first outing with Persimmon did not go very well.
I tried to dry it fast, and it did not like it. It split so bad that one could see
light through the cracks. Received another Persimmon log from Dave in SC, quartered it
shellaced the ends, and put most of it over head in my barn to lose moisture slowly.
I did take one piece and roughed out a bow blank, and have restrained it to a two by four,
with three inches of reflex, that it took after quartering. I did this as the last Persimmon
propeller twisted as well as cracked.
That is as far as I've gotten with Persimmon so far Ernie. I think it will make nice bows.
It was once used for golf club heads, shuttles in the textile industry, and is still used for pool cues.
Here is a little Persimmon folklore for you.
It is said that one can predict the winter by taking the seeds out of some persimmons and then slicing the seeds.
The shape that shows up the most inside each seed will indicate what kind of winter to expect.
The three shapes resemble three eating utensils.
A Knife shape means there will be a cold icy winter (as in the wind will slice through you like a knife).
A Spoon shape means there will be plenty of snow to shovel.
A Fork shape means there will be a mild winter.
