buckthorn question...

[soy]

Stored 1/2 log with the bark on split into 1/4 today and the outer is black and the inner is orange... the question I have is it still good ...after I chase a ring it clears up...what to do

[blackhawk]

The orange is the cambium soyburger

[DuBois]

I did that too. I showered it in hot water for about 30 minutes and the bark softened up and came off with a little scraping and the back was real nice under the bark. The remaining cambium streaks turned black within about an hour after I did.

The orange is the cambium soyburger

I didn't know you were a vegetarian.

[Badly Bent]

What Blackhawk said. Get the orange off and your good to go. I've used a dull scraper on my buckthorn and sometimes have to follow up with a gentle sanding or even a soft brass BBQ brush to clean up the back.

[PEARL DRUMS]

I left bits and pieces of the pink/orange color on mine Soybert. I sanded it baby butt smooth and I dont see it peeling up anytime soon. It looked pretty cool.

[The Gopher]

Soy, you must have some "old growth" buckthorn down in southern Minnesota. I can only find small straggly stuff up near the cities.

Are you planning on coming to the Coon Rapids shoot this weekend?

[soy]

I know the orange at the top of the pictures is the cambium butso is the black the orange at the bottom pic is the hearwood it had a very thin layer of sapwood....the black stuff was exposed to the air side the orange was the inner that I just split so I did not know if it changes black with age or if it was decay and if I'd be good scraping underneath of it

[TacticalFate]

I've had buckthorn sapwood turn grayish when the cambium above turns black from leaving the bark on too long, it must be oxidation. Don't know if that affects the wood though.

[DuBois]

Seriously, shower it a while and it comes right off. I don't think mine was quite so dry though.

Soy, you must have some "old growth" buckthorn down in southern Minnesota. I can only find small straggly stuff up near the cities.

Are you planning on coming to the Coon Rapids shoot this weekend?

I am in Lindstrom just north of MSP and there are some real nice old BT's right across the street.  Come on up if you want a few. Doob

[Badly Bent]

I don't think the black/gray color sapwood compromises  the back. If I remove bark soon after cutting buckthorm the cambium is orange and scrapes off to whitish colored sapwood. If I season some with the bark on the cambium turns black and when removed reveals a sort of brown/gray sapwood back. I recently scored some bucthorn and removed bark and cambium on 6 staves and sealed backs with 3 coats of heavy shellac. 5 of those staves checked badly on the back and one survived. The past couple weeks I debarked and prepped 4 more staves after sitting for 2 months with the bark on. 3 of them had the black cambium and gray sap and 1 had orange cambium and white sapwood. These four survived without any of the bad checking. Go figure, I'm still not sure which method is best?

[missilemaster]

The grey is nothing to worry about. I've built them with all grey backs. just sand it smooth and you should be good to go.

[soy]

Thanks a bunch guys!!! How well does it bend w/heat???

[Badly Bent]

Doesn't bend as easy as osage in my opinion, seems it has to be heated and bent slowly. I've lifted splinters on the belly a couple times just trying to put in mild flipped tips or mild curves. I'm still experimenting with buckthorn, Cody's much more experirnced with the wood and
could give you a better informed opinion on bending I'm sure.