Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: DLH on April 18, 2014, 10:16:30 pm

Title: Free white oak
Post by: DLH on April 18, 2014, 10:16:30 pm
I was given a white oak log today and spent the day splitting and sealing. It was about 16 on the small end. Not the best stuff but I have a bad habitat of turning down free wood. Fairly clean couple of knots but has some twist is the only thing. Ended up with 24 staves total 8 of which are belly splits. May rough one out tomorrow if I get around to it. I handled a couple of hackberry staves after packing all that white oak around all day and could tell a big difference. Think I can remove the twist fairly easy when it comes to it? Only thing I have done is locust and it came out pretty easy.

(http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l491/dnl17694/E2C5BD14-3EE0-428D-B6E6-11E9832D4C94_zpsgdud8fur.jpg) (http://s1120.photobucket.com/user/dnl17694/media/E2C5BD14-3EE0-428D-B6E6-11E9832D4C94_zpsgdud8fur.jpg.html)

(http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l491/dnl17694/173E8433-9235-4141-BCCE-E48769E777FC_zpsv2yrmc64.jpg) (http://s1120.photobucket.com/user/dnl17694/media/173E8433-9235-4141-BCCE-E48769E777FC_zpsv2yrmc64.jpg.html)

(http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l491/dnl17694/46E0F157-B885-47F6-B682-6193986949D1_zpsbjj1veii.jpg) (http://s1120.photobucket.com/user/dnl17694/media/46E0F157-B885-47F6-B682-6193986949D1_zpsbjj1veii.jpg.html)

Thanks,

Daniel
Title: Re: Free white oak
Post by: burchett.donald on April 18, 2014, 10:47:02 pm
Nice haul, that's some tough stuff...I think it rivals Hickory but with better moisture resistance...
                                                                                                           Don
Title: Re: Free white oak
Post by: bow101 on April 18, 2014, 11:43:26 pm
Its free,  good stuff.  They sure charge enough at the lumber store for the stuff.   Our whole system is a mess, where we live in the Pacific North West, Alder grows like a weed here, most people use it for fire-wood.  It drys fast and burns reasonably clean.  But go to the lumber store to buy Alder in finished mill form they want $5. per board foot for the stuff. Go figure.
Title: Re: Free white oak
Post by: IdahoMatt on April 18, 2014, 11:48:23 pm
Great haul looks like you split for the most you could great job :)
Title: Re: Free white oak
Post by: osage outlaw on April 18, 2014, 11:49:53 pm
Nice haul Daniel!  You are working on a nice stave collection.
Title: Re: Free white oak
Post by: Hrothgar on April 19, 2014, 09:31:38 am
Nice haul, looks good. If you think further twisting is going to be a problem you might consider tying, strapping o duct taping some of your prime staves to a straight, seasoned board or pole as they dry.
Title: Re: Free white oak
Post by: Bogaman on April 19, 2014, 10:01:04 am
Couple of weeks worth of bow making in that load. Have fun!
Title: Re: Free white oak
Post by: George Tsoukalas on April 19, 2014, 10:28:40 am
White oak is a very good bow wood.
I agree with Don, I think it is a little better than hickory with moisture, too, but maye not quite as tough but darn close.
You have some fine staves there. Jawge
Title: Re: Free white oak
Post by: adb on April 19, 2014, 01:32:12 pm
Nice haul! Great wood.
Title: Re: Free white oak
Post by: Denham Archer on April 19, 2014, 03:00:59 pm
Nice haul, that's some tough stuff...I think it rivals Hickory but with better moisture resistance...
                                                                                                           Don
Well said, Donald.  I love white oak.
Title: Re: Free white oak
Post by: burchett.donald on April 19, 2014, 07:11:04 pm
Yea, there's a gentleman on here by the name of Howard Rodes (hrhodes) that inspired me to try White Oak. There for a while he was kicking out some show stoppers and even a character bow made from the stuff if you want to check it out. I got lucky and was gifted one from my brothers backyard, pipe straight. It takes a bend with heat easy and loves a deep heat treatment on the belly. I see your bark was trying to fall off, I wasn't that lucky in Jan.
                                                                                  Don
Title: Re: Free white oak
Post by: DLH on April 19, 2014, 09:31:54 pm
Yes I was very suprised the sap was up. This one root balled last fall and my dads neighbor asked if I wanted it. There was about 6ft before the first limb so I lucked out. The tree was over a hundred years old I'm assuming it grew pretty slow.
Title: Re: Free white oak
Post by: TRACY on April 20, 2014, 06:48:35 am
Nice stash of staves! Should make some real nice bows. Is that "female" white oak? >:D


Tracy
Title: Re: Free white oak
Post by: H Rhodes on April 20, 2014, 09:50:22 am
Man, that's a pile of fine bow wood!!  If you want to start on one next month, rough it out close to floor tiller and then clamp it down to a form so it won't twist on you while drying.  The rest of them I would seal the ends (and the backs if you choose to debark them now) and set them somewhere to dry indoors.   White oak heat/steam bends really well and will make any style of bow that you could desire.  Congrats on that haul!
Title: Re: Free white oak
Post by: DLH on April 20, 2014, 03:57:08 pm
No hang downs on this tree Tracy I believe those peckerwoods are rare.

I got all the staves sealed back and ends and store in a barn for now. Have one semi roughed out to 1.5 in thick and full width plan on gradually working it down over the next few weeks.
Title: Re: Free white oak
Post by: blackhawk on April 21, 2014, 08:50:33 am
Good haul there Daniel....that twist dont bother me too much,and most of it will come out when heat shaped/tempered over a form ..even if a lil bit is left after the form it'll be fine ;)