When making from hhb what dia tree should be cut down?

[iowabow]

When making from hhb what dia tree should be cut down?

[iowabow]

also can you thin it down after you cut it down like osage?

[sailordad]

if its like the hhb here,they dont get real large in diameter
get 6-8" or bigger if you can
the bark will come off easier if cut in spring/summer versus winter like now
check the bark pattern very carefulley as hhb likes to grow twisted
also when splittign it will want to twist even if the bark looks straight
once you remove the bark,thats the back for your bow
you can try and chase a ring if you want,but they are usually very fine and hard to differentiate from one another

[sailordad]

where abouts in iowa are you?
im in central minnesota
make it worth my while and i might drive down and give you a hand


hhb is very dense and heavy and a real bear to split by hand too 
i have wedges,maul and my own chain saw and oil/gas also 

[osage outlaw]

I was given a HHB log that was somewhere around 5-6" across.  I split it in half and then split that half into quarters.  I have made one bow out of it, roughed out another bow, and still have the other half of the log left.  It is great to work with, very hard wood.

[straightarrow]

I usually cut them about 4-5" in diameter. I did cut some in the spring that was about 10 or 12". Take sailordads advice and look at the bark closely. I cut some the first time time and it was very very twisted...wasted alot of time and  energy, but learned a valuable lesson....thats for sure.

I have roughed them down to floor tiller while its green and clamped it to a board to keep it from twisting. Be sure to seal the ends and back.  In a month and a half you will be ready to tiller.  I usually do some heat treating during the tillering process. I can have one roughed out in less then a hour with little effort.

Jon

[Kitsu]

great wood, aim for big and straight, 6-8" is great, but bigger is better , just remember, it is hard to split, and hard to chase... so if you split sisters from the staves, use them for backed bows, rather than use them alone, or try to chase (futile )

[osage outlaw]

I didn't chase anything when I built mine.  I just scraped off the bark and used what was under it as the back of the bow.

[jamie]

ive made hhb bows with stone tools from 2" saplings. its tough wood.

[Ryano]

Any size you can find straight enough.... just remove the bark and use the first ring.