Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: beetlebailey1977 on February 17, 2011, 11:22:52 pm

Title: OK what type of tree is this??????
Post by: beetlebailey1977 on February 17, 2011, 11:22:52 pm
This was harvested in the lowcountry of South Carolina.  I went behind a logging outfit and a lot of this was left behind.  Any clue?  It has tite rings due to growing under the canopy of larger trees.
(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x460/beetle_bailey1977/bowwood1.jpg)
The heart wood looks like treated lumber.  Here is a shot of it.
(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x460/beetle_bailey1977/bowwood2.jpg)

Also is this American Hornbeam?
(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x460/beetle_bailey1977/hornbeam.jpg)
Thanks for any help.
Title: Re: OK what type of tree is this??????
Post by: HickoryBill on February 17, 2011, 11:31:25 pm
The first two pics look like hickory maybe?? I'm pretty sure the last picture is ironwood,hophornbeam? But I'm no expert.
Title: Re: OK what type of tree is this??????
Post by: beetlebailey1977 on February 17, 2011, 11:37:58 pm
I was thinking maybe hickory to but I am not sure....Maybe a maple?
Title: Re: OK what type of tree is this??????
Post by: JackCrafty on February 17, 2011, 11:38:19 pm
Some type of hornbeam... maybe European?  It's not hophornbeam.
Title: Re: OK what type of tree is this??????
Post by: beetlebailey1977 on February 17, 2011, 11:41:32 pm
Yeah hophornbeam has flaky bark pretty sure bottom is American hornbeam.  But the 1st and 2nd photo have me stumped.
Title: Re: OK what type of tree is this??????
Post by: Thomas on February 17, 2011, 11:48:18 pm
I don't know what the first ones are but the third picture is definitely hornbeam. It is hornbeam, not hop-hornbeam. Hop-hornbeam doesn't have smooth bark, but has a scaly bark. Another name for hornbeam ( the one that you have) is musclewood, as it looks the muscles on your forearm. We locally call it Blue-beech.
Title: Re: OK what type of tree is this??????
Post by: John K on February 18, 2011, 12:14:31 am
  my first thought was maple, second one some type of hornbeam, with no hop  :)
Title: Re: OK what type of tree is this??????
Post by: aero86 on February 18, 2011, 12:23:40 am
the first looks like the mimosa i tried to make a bow out of.  you should go back out to the area to see if you can find some still standing examples.. then wait for leaves.  mimosa no good.
Title: Re: OK what type of tree is this??????
Post by: Pat B on February 18, 2011, 12:55:06 am
My first thought was poplar but it doesn't grow in Caostal SC. Maybe a maple(red or swamp red) Any pics of buds or branches or the overall tree?
  The last is hornbeam, musclewood, blue beech. It will make a bow but not the best option.
Title: Re: OK what type of tree is this??????
Post by: Rick Wallace on February 18, 2011, 12:59:05 am
Is there any leaves on it still?  Its easier identifiing trees or anything if you can look at the leaves.
Title: Re: OK what type of tree is this??????
Post by: Thomas on February 18, 2011, 01:04:25 am
The first two pictures look a little like sycamore. As Sycamore gets older it starts to look diseased. The bark starts to fall off because it doesn't grow with the tree,but I don't know when that starts to happen.
Title: Re: OK what type of tree is this??????
Post by: Pappy on February 18, 2011, 08:13:40 am
First 2 really look like Poplar to me could be Hickory I guess if like Pat said ,it don't grow there. Should be easy enough to tell.Hickory is hard and Poplar ant. Plus Hickory don't usually split as clean. If it is Hickory the bark will be pretty hard if it is Poplar you can scratch it with you nail,the last is Blue beach/Mussel wood. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: OK what type of tree is this??????
Post by: cracker on February 18, 2011, 09:40:30 am
I'm thinking Poplar
Title: Re: OK what type of tree is this??????
Post by: nugget on February 18, 2011, 10:22:17 am
the first 2 look like the poplar around my place.
Title: Re: OK what type of tree is this??????
Post by: crooketarrow on February 18, 2011, 10:29:56 am
  We've got lots of popular. I'd say the first 2 are popular. The last one in hornbeam for sure Ive cut quite a few.
Title: Re: OK what type of tree is this??????
Post by: beetlebailey1977 on February 18, 2011, 11:00:01 am
Yep I think I agree.  The 1st two are poplar.  They are very light for thier size.  And the wood looks fibrous.  Not hard at all.  Would it be to hard to try and make arrows from this?  I know the last is hornbeam. 
Title: Re: OK what type of tree is this??????
Post by: Pat B on February 18, 2011, 11:38:11 am
Poplar makes very good arrows. I'd cut them to 6" or 8" over your arrow length split them in half and set aside to cure out. Leave the bark on and peobably seal the ends but that might not be necessary. Once dry you can split out or saw out blanks to plane into shafting.
Title: Re: OK what type of tree is this??????
Post by: nclonghunter on February 18, 2011, 12:29:54 pm
The first is certainly a Poplar and the twisted standing one is Ironwood..I did some reading and the Ironwood is nick named Hop hornbeam but it is a different tree. Even the bark is different. I have examined a bunch of the Ironwood here in NC and it is so twisted I can not find a bow from any I have looked at. Keep looking I am sure there's a tree with a bow in it, somewhere.  Good Luck
Title: Re: OK what type of tree is this??????
Post by: beetlebailey1977 on February 18, 2011, 09:04:05 pm
Yes the last one is not hop hornbeam.  I have researced and it is American hornbeam.  As for the poplar I am gonna give the arrows a try.
Title: Re: OK what type of tree is this??????
Post by: S.C. hunter on February 19, 2011, 12:06:27 am
Looks like poplar to me, seems a little to straight for maple. At least it is in upstate S.C.
 

                   Steve
Title: Re: OK what type of tree is this??????
Post by: medic336 on February 19, 2011, 02:08:20 pm
poplar is a very light weight softer wood. It does look like poplar. Where there any tulips(not flowers)around the tree? Poplar has tulip like pieces that grow on the branches should be about 3-5 inches long. Not sure if they grow on every tree but some trtees out of a stand should have them. Some heart wood when sawed on a mill will be purple.
Title: Re: OK what type of tree is this??????
Post by: cuthalion on February 19, 2011, 03:35:25 pm
certainly looks a lot like maple too me...id say trying making a bow out of one log and arrows out of the other and see how that works :P
Title: Re: OK what type of tree is this??????
Post by: DV IN MN on February 20, 2011, 03:20:49 pm
 MY knowledge on trees is pretty in depth, 1st pic live tree, 2nd dead tree, 3rd live tree, and thats the rest of the story.