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Author Topic: Hackberry Log  (Read 3667 times)

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Offline Gaust

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Hackberry Log
« on: October 29, 2013, 05:29:51 pm »
Okay, first things first.  Had a hackberry tree in my backyard cut down and I got to save an 8" - 10" diameter x 77" long portion of the trunk.  My goal is to split the log and make several staves for selfbows.  I have it sitting outside and have sealed the ends of the log with spar urethane.  Should I split it immediately and get it indoors before the cold, rainy weather hits?  Hackberry Log 2.JPG
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Offline Marks

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Re: Hackberry Log
« Reply #1 on: October 29, 2013, 05:41:07 pm »
Go ahead and split it.
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Offline RidgeRunner

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Re: Hackberry Log
« Reply #2 on: October 29, 2013, 05:48:45 pm »
Yes.  Split it now.
Peal the bark off and seal the backs and ends.  Then get it indoors.
Don't leave that Hackberry outside.  It will rune in just a few short days.

Maybe get it indoors first.

David
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Offline soy

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Re: Hackberry Log
« Reply #3 on: October 29, 2013, 08:33:21 pm »
I agree to split debark and seal as soon as possible I've lost hackberry to procrastination :-[
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Offline toomanyknots

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Re: Hackberry Log
« Reply #4 on: October 29, 2013, 09:07:57 pm »
There's a good sized log that was cut down by a road crew recently near my house. I have been eying it for 3 days now, don't know when it was cut. I have just been too busy to pick it up. Plus I don't know exactly how to get a car parked up near it, it is by a really busy road on a hillside sort of, but right next to the road. I wonder how fast the bugs will get to it?
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"The way of heaven is like the bending of a bow-
 the upper part is pressed down,
 the lower part is raised up,
 the part that has too much is reduced,
 the part that has too little is increased."

- Tao Te Ching, 77, A new translation by Victor H. Mair

Offline Gaust

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Re: Hackberry Log
« Reply #5 on: October 29, 2013, 10:07:51 pm »
Thanks, all.  I'll get that log split first thing in the morn.  Then start taking the bark off each stave.  I'll seal the backs as well prior to storage inside my garage.  When I take the bark off, is it important not to violate the growth ring below it?  Or is that only necessary if I don't back it?
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Offline Pappy

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Re: Hackberry Log
« Reply #6 on: October 30, 2013, 09:02:01 am »
Be as careful as you can,but it probably will be tough to get off this time of year,first ring under the bark is you back,but most Hackberry I have used is pretty easy to chase a ring if you violate the back while de barking.  :) Just get it out of the weather as soon as you can is the main thing.I have left the bark on,just more chance of bug if you do. :)
 Pappy
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Offline toomanyknots

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Re: Hackberry Log
« Reply #7 on: October 30, 2013, 11:06:17 am »
Quote from: Pappy on October 30, 2013, 09:02:01 am
Be as careful as you can,but it probably will be tough to get off this time of year,first ring under the bark is you back,but most Hackberry I have used is pretty easy to chase a ring if you violate the back while de barking.  :) Just get it out of the weather as soon as you can is the main thing.I have left the bark on,just more chance of bug if you do. :)
 Pappy

A sharp draw knife is great to get the bark off I find (mine was sent to me by criverville, thank you again!). I take off all the hard part, and leave a bit of the soft part underneath, which I then will switch to a dull butter knife to scrap the soft stuff off. I usually can get a stave done pretty quick this way when the bark sticks, without violating the back.
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"The way of heaven is like the bending of a bow-
 the upper part is pressed down,
 the lower part is raised up,
 the part that has too much is reduced,
 the part that has too little is increased."

- Tao Te Ching, 77, A new translation by Victor H. Mair

Offline SamIAm

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Re: Hackberry Log
« Reply #8 on: October 30, 2013, 12:00:05 pm »
Sorry to hijack this post but is it important to seal the back of a hickory stave after removing the bark?  I sealed the ends and removed the bark (on some of the staves, left bark on some) but I didn't seal the back before putting them up in the shed.
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And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man."

Offline toomanyknots

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Re: Hackberry Log
« Reply #9 on: October 30, 2013, 12:45:44 pm »
Quote from: SamIAm on October 30, 2013, 12:00:05 pm
Sorry to hijack this post but is it important to seal the back of a hickory stave after removing the bark?  I sealed the ends and removed the bark (on some of the staves, left bark on some) but I didn't seal the back before putting them up in the shed.

Most of the time, probably 99 percent of the time, they will be fine without sealing the back. I had a couple check on the back on me once, but it was very slight, the staves were very big and thick, and it was very hot outside. And even then, I still made bows out of them, and they were fine. I have never sealed the back on a hackberry stave myself.
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"The way of heaven is like the bending of a bow-
 the upper part is pressed down,
 the lower part is raised up,
 the part that has too much is reduced,
 the part that has too little is increased."

- Tao Te Ching, 77, A new translation by Victor H. Mair

Offline Gaust

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Re: Hackberry Log
« Reply #10 on: October 30, 2013, 12:58:06 pm »
Whew!  Bought a sledge hammer and some wedges and I just split the log and got two good staves so far.  I'll finish splitting the other half this afternoon.  I might get three staves out of that half.   This is hard work for a 64 year old.  But I'm determined to turn this wood into something beautiful if it doesn't kill me first.
George
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Offline Gaust

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Re: Hackberry Log
« Reply #11 on: October 30, 2013, 05:10:29 pm »
Just finished splitting the log.  Got five staves from it.  Three are okay, the other two are questionable because of a slight twist in them.  Next I'll remove the bark with my draw knife before I store them for the winter.  I'll probably go ahead and seal the backs, too.
George
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Offline DarkSoul

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Re: Hackberry Log
« Reply #12 on: October 30, 2013, 07:42:42 pm »
Be VERY careful when you remove the bark with a drawknife! You must not damage the wood that is directly underneath the bark. Try to peel off as much as possible, and scrape with a dull (draw)knife when necessary. Any nicks in the first layer of wood (which will become the back of the bow) can become a problem.
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"Sonuit contento nervus ab arcu."
Ovid, Metamorphoses VI-286

Offline Gaust

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Re: Hackberry Log
« Reply #13 on: October 30, 2013, 08:28:07 pm »
Thanks, DarkSoul.  Will do, but will I recognize that layer when I see it?
George
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Offline JW_Halverson

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Re: Hackberry Log
« Reply #14 on: October 30, 2013, 10:27:26 pm »
Twist is not anything scary in hackberry.  You can use either steam or dry heat to correct twist. 
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