Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: tiknuttle on August 14, 2010, 07:22:08 pm

Title: Bad Idea
Post by: tiknuttle on August 14, 2010, 07:22:08 pm
I cut down a maple tree today about 8 to 9 inches tick. I usaually only cut small to medium sized saplings to make bows but today I decided deferently. I wanted a cleaneir piece of wood free of knots, pins, etc.. to make into 2 or 3 staves. When I was spliting the log with wedges it started to take on a propeler twist. the grain was spliting around the log. This is about the third time this has happened to me. It happens every time I try to split a log. I chick to see if the bark was running straight and everthing whats the problem?
Title: Re: Bad Idea
Post by: snedeker on August 14, 2010, 09:17:01 pm
The twist can be hard to detect in a lot of wood types.  I run into a lot of twisted wood.  Its one of those grin and bear it situations.  Gotta say, Hey this is nice firewood.

dave
Title: Re: Bad Idea
Post by: youngbowyer33 on August 14, 2010, 09:48:27 pm
I don't cut and split a lot of wood, but the first and only wood that twisted when splitting for me was maple. But when you get straight stuff, it is a great bow wood.
Title: Re: Bad Idea
Post by: acker on August 15, 2010, 05:04:29 am
Doesn't has to be fire wood , you can cut it and than splice it back together .

acker
Title: Re: Bad Idea
Post by: Del the cat on August 15, 2010, 05:35:41 am
It's just one of those bad things like death and taxes.
I got my bandsaw so as to minimise wasteage on decent Yew logs, but I'd rather split if possible as it shows the real run of the grain.
I reckon 45 degrees of twist over the length of a stave is about the max you can live with.
Del
Title: Re: Bad Idea
Post by: acker on August 15, 2010, 05:51:57 am
It's just one of those bad things like death and taxes.

Del


 :D :D absolutely right

acker
Title: Re: Bad Idea
Post by: tiknuttle on August 15, 2010, 11:57:21 am
Does maple have interlocking grain cause it wouldn't split very easily. I wasn't able to split the log in two and I can't get a couple of my wedges out. I don't know maybe I need bigger wedges?
Title: Re: Bad Idea
Post by: acker on August 15, 2010, 07:32:21 pm
OK , thats now a bad sign , a bad sign because most the time when that happens the wood has a lot of twist.
You probably need a chainsaw  ::)
acker