Snakewood

[Parnell]

Thought I would post a couple pictures of this tree.  There are several planted  at the school I teach at.

[Pat B]

I see a few bows in that multi trunk, Steve. Maybe contact maintenance or do a midnight run. 

[Parnell]

A midnight run!  I’m going to cut a stave and let it season.  There is a fancy straight reflexed piece I have my eye on!

[Parnell]

Leaves...

[wizardgoat]

Cool! I remember a guy from Florida years ago posted a snakewood bow he made with stone tools.
It’s a native tree there isn’t it?

[burchett.donald]

   That would be Ryan Gill, the one bow he made that really impressed me   http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,47421.msg647762.html#msg647762 ...What's the address of that school? Lol
                                                                                                                                                                         Don

[PatM]

This is where names become confusing.   The Snakewood typically mentioned as such is probably not the Florida type but rather the highly figured South American species.

[mullet]

I already told you I'll take one when you do it.

[mullet]

Goat, the Bow Ryan Gill did the article on was a subspecies, Surinam Cherry.

[Parnell]

I remember Ryan’s article.  I thought he located this same variety, but not sure. These trees are “White Stopper” trees.  They have loads of white flowers all over in the spring and then produce the small berries.  I am surprised I don’t see them used in landscaping more frequently, being native. 

I’ve been given a thumbs up to take a some of the pieces, so we’ll see.  I’ll update.

[RAU]

I think Ryan said that "snakewood" he used was so dense it sank in water

[Deerhunter21]

I thought snakewood is very rare?

[PatM]

That would depend on the snakewood.  The highly figured stuff is.

[mullet]

PatM, there is some of the figured stuff in the everglades but most of what I heard was there is on the Miccosukee Reservations.

Steve, I talked to Ryan at the TBOF shoot after he wrote the article. He said it was Surinam.

[Parnell]

Hmm.  Interesting, Eddie.  I just don't know for sure what to think as it doesn't seem ultimately clear what's what.  The suriname cherry that grows in my neighborhood is more like a hedge.  Well...only one way to find out of this is what is it supposed to be.  Highly figured stuff?  You guys mean like the grain being so highly interwoven? 

When I cut the pieces I've been green-lit on I'm figuring on just sealing the ends and leaving them be.  Leaving the rind-like "bark" on. Some of the other tropical varieties I've taken over the years can have a tendency to check real bad when drying if they are cut/split.