Author Topic: Central pith  (Read 3190 times)

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Offline Lucasade

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Central pith
« on: September 10, 2014, 06:00:49 pm »
I felled an ash tree for a client today and she let me take a half log. I've roughed it out enough to actually pick it up, but I'm not sure whether I need to remove all of the central pith before I put it away to season?
« Last Edit: September 10, 2014, 06:04:17 pm by Lucasade »

Offline Pat B

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Re: Central pith
« Reply #1 on: September 10, 2014, 06:54:24 pm »
I don't know about ash but I've seen other woods check down the pith as they dried. Can you split it in half?
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Lucasade

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Re: Central pith
« Reply #2 on: September 11, 2014, 03:23:53 am »
I'm not quite sure I understand what you mean - I split the log in half on site then squared it off with hatchet and drawknife when I got home. There's still pith on about a third of its length but it got dark. It would probably only take about 10 more minutes with the drawknife to get the last bits out but I just wondered whether that's necessary?

You may have realised I'm new to this business...

Offline Del the cat

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Re: Central pith
« Reply #3 on: September 11, 2014, 04:00:41 am »
AFIK it doesn't matter in the slightest... I've seasoned Elder with huge pith channels exposed along the split no prob.
I like the dark pith line in Yew, it's natures centre line :laugh:
Del
Health warning, these posts may contain traces of nut.

Offline DC

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Re: Central pith
« Reply #4 on: September 11, 2014, 12:31:45 pm »
What are you meaning by "pith"? What part of the tree?

Offline Lucasade

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Re: Central pith
« Reply #5 on: September 11, 2014, 03:01:17 pm »
The thin strip of soft tissue running down the very centre:





The bottom third of the stave still has it as you can see.

Offline DC

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Re: Central pith
« Reply #6 on: September 11, 2014, 03:12:29 pm »
OK just checking. Something in my pea brain just thought you might be referring to something else. I'm all right now :-[. I'm not sure about Ash either, but it would only take a second to get rid of it and I can't see it hurting anything.

Offline Lucasade

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Re: Central pith
« Reply #7 on: September 11, 2014, 04:32:44 pm »
That's what I'm thinking. I'll get the drawknife back out tomorrow.

Offline simson

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Re: Central pith
« Reply #8 on: September 12, 2014, 05:18:29 am »
I see no problem seasoning that stave. I have about hundred looking just as yours. They are now from 1 - 6 years seasoned, no checking.
Simon
Bavaria, Germany

Offline Perkinator

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Re: Central pith
« Reply #9 on: September 12, 2014, 03:43:57 pm »
I have a stave that is hollow in the middle from being a home to ants. It was hollow black and full of sweet oil. I hope it wont make a difference.