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Following the grain on elm
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Topic: Following the grain on elm (Read 1960 times)
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RyanY
Member
Posts: 1,999
Following the grain on elm
«
on:
June 07, 2022, 02:12:15 pm »
Took the bark off a couple of elm staves recently and ran into something I haven’t seen with other woods. When marking out the center line there were areas where the grain would suddenly shoot off in opposite directions. Makes sense as to why it’s hard to split. Wondering if anyone has advice for following the grain on the back or if it matters that much with elm in general. Thanks!
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bownarra
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Re: Following the grain on elm
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Reply #1 on:
June 07, 2022, 02:38:12 pm »
On those funky staves I would follow the crown. If the staves are dead flat then take an average!
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PatM
Member
Posts: 6,737
Re: Following the grain on elm
«
Reply #2 on:
June 07, 2022, 04:06:22 pm »
Each year the wood is laid down in different side to side waves. What you see on the outer ring only reflects that year. If the trunk was straight then just straightline the bow. You only need to follow an actual snake profile if the tree grew in that shape.
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BowEd
Member
Posts: 9,390
BowEd
Re: Following the grain on elm
«
Reply #3 on:
June 07, 2022, 04:25:04 pm »
Well said and I agree.Kind of a general rule on all wood really.
I've read where there is cross longitudal grain interlocking lengthwise longitudal grain to make it a harder to split type wood.Can't prove it by me though.The outside ring is going to do most of the tension work though.
It's supposed to be one of the reasons why it does'nt split very easily when worked on.
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BowEd
You got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.
Ed
Aksel
Member
Posts: 256
Re: Following the grain on elm
«
Reply #4 on:
June 07, 2022, 05:20:38 pm »
Are you roughing out the stave green? If so, I´d follow the grain to prevent warping. If dry, not so important.
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Stoneagebows
bassman211
Member
Posts: 597
Re: Following the grain on elm
«
Reply #5 on:
June 07, 2022, 05:49:55 pm »
A chain saw will make short order for splitting elm, and some staves do have crazy grain.
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BowEd
Member
Posts: 9,390
BowEd
Re: Following the grain on elm
«
Reply #6 on:
June 07, 2022, 06:37:17 pm »
Yes I've scored elm with a skill saw before with success.I don't think I've seen what Ryan described though.Maybe a picture would tell more.
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BowEd
You got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.
Ed
PatM
Member
Posts: 6,737
Re: Following the grain on elm
«
Reply #7 on:
June 07, 2022, 07:37:37 pm »
It looks like water flowing in a rocky stream.
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RyanY
Member
Posts: 1,999
Re: Following the grain on elm
«
Reply #8 on:
June 07, 2022, 08:21:45 pm »
The staves were fairly straight with mild character. Not enough crown to follow. It's as PatM describes. It almost looks like to streams of water meeting. I tried to get pictures but they didn't turn out the best. You can kind of make out the intersecting grain cutting diagonally across the stave.
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bownarra
Guest
Re: Following the grain on elm
«
Reply #9 on:
June 08, 2022, 01:47:18 am »
That looks a lot like the elm we get here. i think you are good
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BowEd
Member
Posts: 9,390
BowEd
Re: Following the grain on elm
«
Reply #10 on:
June 08, 2022, 07:12:31 am »
Thanks Ryan...Good looking stave there.Mild snake to it.
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BowEd
You got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.
Ed
RyanY
Member
Posts: 1,999
Re: Following the grain on elm
«
Reply #11 on:
June 08, 2022, 12:05:05 pm »
Thanks for all the advice! Always more to learn!
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bushboy
Member
Posts: 2,256
Re: Following the grain on elm
«
Reply #12 on:
June 08, 2022, 07:55:12 pm »
Well said pat m
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Some like motorboats,I like kayaks,some like guns,I like bows,but not the wheelie type.
superdav95
Member
Posts: 2,116
3432614095
Re: Following the grain on elm
«
Reply #13 on:
June 08, 2022, 10:58:45 pm »
To illustrate what pat m was saying here is a elm log I cut and kerfed last week or so. You can see that outer layer of grain that looks snaky but the log look straight as an arrow. The last bow I made with elm last year was similar but not as pronounced with grain runoff.
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Sticks and stones and other poky stabby things.
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Following the grain on elm