Free white oak

[DLH]

I was given a white oak log today and spent the day splitting and sealing. It was about 16 on the small end. Not the best stuff but I have a bad habitat of turning down free wood. Fairly clean couple of knots but has some twist is the only thing. Ended up with 24 staves total 8 of which are belly splits. May rough one out tomorrow if I get around to it. I handled a couple of hackberry staves after packing all that white oak around all day and could tell a big difference. Think I can remove the twist fairly easy when it comes to it? Only thing I have done is locust and it came out pretty easy.







Thanks,

Daniel

[burchett.donald]

Nice haul, that's some tough stuff...I think it rivals Hickory but with better moisture resistance...
                                                                                                           Don

[bow101]

Its free,  good stuff.  They sure charge enough at the lumber store for the stuff.   Our whole system is a mess, where we live in the Pacific North West, Alder grows like a weed here, most people use it for fire-wood.  It drys fast and burns reasonably clean.  But go to the lumber store to buy Alder in finished mill form they want $5. per board foot for the stuff. Go figure.

[IdahoMatt]

Great haul looks like you split for the most you could great job

[osage outlaw]

Nice haul Daniel!  You are working on a nice stave collection.

[Hrothgar]

Nice haul, looks good. If you think further twisting is going to be a problem you might consider tying, strapping o duct taping some of your prime staves to a straight, seasoned board or pole as they dry.

[Bogaman]

Couple of weeks worth of bow making in that load. Have fun!

[George Tsoukalas]

White oak is a very good bow wood.
I agree with Don, I think it is a little better than hickory with moisture, too, but maye not quite as tough but darn close.
You have some fine staves there. Jawge

[adb]

Nice haul! Great wood.

[Denham Archer]

Nice haul, that's some tough stuff...I think it rivals Hickory but with better moisture resistance...
                                                                                                           Don

Well said, Donald.  I love white oak.

[burchett.donald]

Yea, there's a gentleman on here by the name of Howard Rodes (hrhodes) that inspired me to try White Oak. There for a while he was kicking out some show stoppers and even a character bow made from the stuff if you want to check it out. I got lucky and was gifted one from my brothers backyard, pipe straight. It takes a bend with heat easy and loves a deep heat treatment on the belly. I see your bark was trying to fall off, I wasn't that lucky in Jan.
                                                                                  Don

[DLH]

Yes I was very suprised the sap was up. This one root balled last fall and my dads neighbor asked if I wanted it. There was about 6ft before the first limb so I lucked out. The tree was over a hundred years old I'm assuming it grew pretty slow.

[TRACY]

Nice stash of staves! Should make some real nice bows. Is that "female" white oak?


Tracy

[H Rhodes]

Man, that's a pile of fine bow wood!!  If you want to start on one next month, rough it out close to floor tiller and then clamp it down to a form so it won't twist on you while drying.  The rest of them I would seal the ends (and the backs if you choose to debark them now) and set them somewhere to dry indoors.   White oak heat/steam bends really well and will make any style of bow that you could desire.  Congrats on that haul!

[DLH]

No hang downs on this tree Tracy I believe those peckerwoods are rare.

I got all the staves sealed back and ends and store in a barn for now. Have one semi roughed out to 1.5 in thick and full width plan on gradually working it down over the next few weeks.