sassafras score

[KHalverson]

having family that work for a tree service can come in handy
i came home from work and found 2 nice straight sassafras logs in the driveway
one was 11 in  diameter the other was 8-9 in diameter
i put in a call to my partner in crime  owlbait and he was gracous enough to come and help split these logs
this should keep two greenhorns buildin bows over the long michigan winter
ended up with 11 staves with the possibility of a couple more courtesy of the band saw
so what  ya think are there some bows in these staves?


owlbait inspecting our work


all staves are sealed on the back and ends
kevin

[coaster500]

Looks like some bows to me

Only built one Sassafras ELB, sure smell good workin it!!!

[CTT]

Looks like you and OB had a good work out with that haul, Nice looking batch-o-staves.
CTT

[JW_Halverson]

Get some sealer on the back like cheap latex paint, shellac, polyurathane, or wood glue!  No sense letting all that good hard work turn into cracked/checked firewood!!!

Good work, cousin!

[owlbait]

Sure would appreciate any comments or advice for these two greenhorns on the best way to prep/work this sassafras. Thanks.

[KHalverson]

Get some sealer on the back like cheap latex paint, shellac, polyurathane, or wood glue!  No sense letting all that good hard work turn into cracked/checked firewood!!!

Good work, cousin!

thanks jw
the backs and ends are sealed with a good heavy coat of helmsman spar urethane
kevin

[JW_Halverson]

Atta boy!

[scp]

According to The Wood Database, sassafras has
  Rupture Strength: 9,000 lbf/in2 (62,070 kPa)
  Elastic Strength: 1,120,000 lbf/in2 (7,720 MPa)
  Crushing Strength: 6,600 lbf/in2 (45.5 MPa)
http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-identification/hardwoods/sassafras/

elastic/crushing=7720/45.5=179
Cf. pacific yew: elastic/crushing=9310/55.9=167

I would build ELB style bows
with the width/thickness ratio of 8/5
(the width is 160% of the thickness),
but definitely with flat belly.

rupture/crushing=63/45.5=1.38
Cf. pacific yew: 105/55.9=1.88

[coaster500]

According to The Wood Database, sassafras has
  Rupture Strength: 9,000 lbf/in2 (62,070 kPa)
  Elastic Strength: 1,120,000 lbf/in2 (7,720 MPa)
  Crushing Strength: 6,600 lbf/in2 (45.5 MPa)
http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-identification/hardwoods/sassafras/

elastic/crushing=7720/45.5=179
Cf. pacific yew: elastic/crushing=9310/55.9=167

I would build ELB style bows
with the width/thickness ratio of 8/5
(the width is 160% of the thickness),
but definitely with flat belly.

rupture/crushing=d63/45.5=1.38
Cf. pacific yew: 105/55.9=1.88

and looooooong is good 

[druid]

Good harvest. Thimo made food sassafras ELB, few years ago.

[Pappy]

Nice haul,looks like a bunch of bows to me.
   Pappy

[crooketarrow]

   Sasafrass seasons supper light. It also warps easy. Keep your stave thick like you have them amd store them in a open out of the sun airly space. Slowere they season less likely they are to warp.
  Long time ago I was in a hurry and put a stave in a hot box. It was nice and thick just like yours. In the hot box the heat still warped it. So put them some where they can season slowly.
  I've made 6 or 7 sassafrass bows all were supper light ,fast good cast. With a inch or less string follow.
  I'd bet with a stave you've reflexed to 2 inchs and put it in a hot box 5 or so min.s before you work on your tiller(beening the limbs)to keep surface mousture down you could keep a inch reflex no problem.  Sassafrass likes to suck up moisture amost like HICKORY.

[KHalverson]

thanks guys !
hopefully we will be able to build quite a few bows from these staves
kevin

[beetlebailey1977]

Interested in info myself......I have a sass stave to work too.