Hazelnut question

[wizardgoat]

I have lots of common hazel growing in my backyard. I cut a few stave size pieces, but the growth rings are huuuuuuuge.  A 2" diam stave has maybe 7 or 8 growth rings.  its pretty light, I'll be trying it out anyways, but any of you hazel guys have experiences with tight tight ring/fat ring staves?
whats too small of a diameter to cut?

[Gordon]

I don't bother with anything under 2" in diameter.

[Del the cat]

The Hazel in the UK has very indistinct rings and is pretty much homogeneous. My theory is that it's because it barely stops growing, it's one of the last trees to loose it's leaves and one of the first to bud and flower, in fact sometimes it seems to have catkins before it's even lost it's leaves.
I don't worry about the rings at all. just leave the under bark surface as the back and cut away the belly to suit. I usually go for about 2" limb width.
Del

[wizardgoat]

thanks guys

[DC]

Wiz, would you have any idea of the botanical name of your Hazel? I have a Hazel(Filbert) in my yard and there is a lot in the neighbourhood but I think it's an import. The Bluejays plant it everywhere. My tree book mentions a native, Beaked Hazelnut(California Hazelnut) that grows up to the Lower Mainland and over to Victoria but not up as far as me. I'm nurturing a few suckers on the one in the yard but they will be a few years. here's a link to Beaked Hazelnut
 http://macphailwoods.org/nature-guides/shrubs/beaked-hazelnut/
Do you think this is what you have?

[wizardgoat]

Ya, I'm 99% sure my hazel is Corylus cornuta.
I have some purple leak filbert aka Corylus maxima as well.

[DC]

can you or anyone identify which corylus this is? Not much to go on.

[wizardgoat]

Looks like the same stuff DC

[mikekeswick]

Corylus avellana is the species we have a lot of here in the UK.
Yes only cut at about 2 inch minimum. Forget the ring size it doesn't matter and it's diffuse porous. Hazel is a fantastic wood when heat treated and highly elastic. It has surprised me a few times but watch for pin knots - if you don't give it extra width it will chrysal at them.

[Bowman]

Hazel is fantastic. I've done som 35-40# longbows with lots of reflex in the stave. The bows keep the reflex for a long time. No problem. When heat treating the wood will be more durable against compression problems in the bow and keep the reflex . My hazel bows are really fast.