Author Topic: OPTIMUM SIZE FOR HACKBERY LOG  (Read 1093 times)

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Offline hook

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OPTIMUM SIZE FOR HACKBERY LOG
« on: February 17, 2012, 01:07:21 pm »
What is the best size of Hackberry to cut for Bowmaking? or is there one?
I have never tried it before but There is alot of it where I am working now!

Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: OPTIMUM SIZE FOR HACKBERY LOG
« Reply #1 on: February 17, 2012, 01:09:12 pm »
10-14" is my favorite for all woods. I  believe white wood bows need a flat back and that means a larger tree must be cut. 
Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.

Offline richardzane

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Re: OPTIMUM SIZE FOR HACKBERY LOG
« Reply #2 on: February 17, 2012, 01:24:50 pm »
I'm no expert, but my better hackberry bows are coming from bigger trees.
BUT I'm not one to go indescriminately sawin down trees. I've been fortunate to have a big one blow over recently.
It had a trunk about 16 to 18 inches... a real nice smooth sapwood back. The blanks i've saved ---not a knot in sight.
one benefit i've noticed is not as much propellering as happens from the younger trees who are always twisting around like kids.

Its nice to shoot a bow made from a tree whose rings shared your summers and winters with you.
just looking at its rings brings back memories.
when i'm working on things my ancestors worked, singing the songs my ancestors sang, dancing the same dances, speaking the same language, only then  I feel connected to the land, THIS land, where my ancestors walked for thousands of years...