Laburnum (updated)

[Lucasade]

I've just been given permission to harvest what seems to be a rather lovely bit of laburnum. I've read it can be tricky to season and wondered if anybody has any advice before I cut it and inadvertantly mess it up? It's about 4-5" diameter and runs straight for at least seven feet. In particular is it better to wait to cut it until the leaves have dropped, and do I need to halve it immediately or season it in the round?

[Pat B]

I've never used laburnum but in general you can cut bow wood anytime. For whitewoods most folks prefer to cut during the growing season so the bark will peel off exposing the back. From now until next spring the bark will be stuck well to the wood. The bark can be removed but care must be taken to not damage the back.
 Logs I have harvested I've split in half immediately and sealed the ends. In a month or so I'd split out individual staves. If you do remove the bark be sure to seal the back.

[PatM]

Remember Laburnum is very toxic.

[wizardgoat]

Hey, I cut some smaller diam laburnum and left them whole like I do yew. Even with 3 dips on each end they started to check so I split them.
Sounds like you have a nice log, if you think there's more than one bow in it, dont chance  it. I'd band saw it.

[Lucasade]

I don't have access to a bandsaw (and I'm working medieval-style) so if I need to halve it it will be with a drawknife and just go for the one bow - better to get one good stave than two bits of firewood!

[mikekeswick]

Yes I too would split it straight away. Make some simple wooden wedges and it will split easily. Labernum can also get quite thick sapwood so I would also be prepared to chase a ring. I tend to just leave one sapwood ring and it's texture may surprise you! It's more like rubber than wood!
As for making thebow from it treat it like it's yew. Narrow and with a rounded belly. You can really strain this wood...it's top notch bow wood....ever bit as good as yew. It also makes the most beautiful bows 
I've just split a small straight seasoned log and recurved the ends...just got to get them spliced now  Once dry it loses it's toxicity.

[Lucasade]

Thanks everyone - I'll leave it on the tree until I've got time to deal with it straight after cutting then.

[Bowman]

Hi. I've done som laburnum bows. Use gloves when you harvest and split it. Seal the ends. Laburnum is very toxic when its greenwood but most of the toxic disappear when you dry the staves. The sapwood are more toxic than the heartwood.
If you are lucky you will get a lot of setback in the staves and that gives you a good result when you finish the bow. Laburnum bows keep the reflex and turns out to be very effective. It's the same quality as yew and it is pretty good looking. The sun makes the bow darker, like osage. Work outside and  use mask. Good luck.

 

[Del the cat]

Split it. Less likely to crack
Del

[Lucasade]

I had to buy some wedges for work so I took the opportunity of being where the tree is for probably the last time this year to chop the log:









Yes that's a large piece of highly toxic wood in my kitchen... 

Anyway, it's a bit knottier than I thought when I looked at it in the tree - I hope it's not beyond use? There's 8" either end which is obviously unusable that I guess will help protect the ends while it seasons and can then be chopped off, and 76" in the middle.

How important is it to split straight away - can it wait a week? Also has anyone got good tips for accurate splitting? I'm getting better but still only done firewood up to now.

[Pat B]

It is generally better to wait a week or two before splitting. Do seal the ends ASAP though.

[wizardgoat]

Can't really tell the diameter of that log. If it was mine I dont think
id chance splitting it. Find where the best bow lies in it and use a hatchet.
a bandsaw may get you 2 staves.
Wait a week or 2 before halve it, seal the ends well and yes leave them long. All my laburnum has checked on the ends

[Lucasade]

Sorry, should have said. Just over 4" tapering to just over 3 1/2".

[JackCrafty]

Toxic?  I dunno.      Flutes, recorders, and bagpipes were made from it back in the day.

[Pat B]

From Wikipedia

"All parts of the plant are poisonous, and can be lethal if consumed in excess. Symptoms of laburnum poisoning may include intense sleepiness, vomiting, convulsive movements, coma, slight frothing at the mouth and unequally dilated pupils. In some cases, diarrhea is very severe, and at times the convulsions are markedly tetanic. The main toxin in the plant is cytisine, a nicotinic receptor agonist"