HHB question

[JonW]

I finally found a small HHB worth cutting. It's not a very prevalent tree where I'm at so I took it. It is 3" on the small end and 4" on the big end. For those that use this wood a lot how would you proceed? Split or saw? Seems to not have much twist but I have heard it may be hard to read the bark on HHB.

[dylanholderman]

if its straight and no twist i would split, but then i don't have the tools too saw it either lol.

[Jim Davis]

I'd peel to see if there is twist. Probably saw no matter  what.  In my experience, HHB always has a very ragged split and not against splitting in a twist even if the outer wood looks straight.

After peeling saw or split right away, or you will end up with the back getting drying cracks.  Once split, no need to seal the back.

Jim Davis

[HickoryBill]

Cut it,if the grain is straight split it( maybe just in half) peel the bark off, and seal the back and ends real well

[blackhawk]

Anything around that small of a diameter I run thru the band saw now due to past experiences splitting small diameters

[Marc St Louis]

You can get 3 staves out of a 4" tree.  I would kerf with a circular saw then split

[PEARL DRUMS]

Peel whole to see the grain clearly, saw in half or quarters depending on size, then seal the ends. I don't seal the backs. Doesn't help me one bit.

[DC]

Peel whole to see the grain clearly, saw in half or quarters depending on size

PD Do you try to follow the grain when you are sawing it? Kind of spiral it through the saw? Just the way you said that made me wonder.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Not if I can cut it straight and still have enough wiggle room to lay out a 2" wide bow.

[DC]

Thanks