Wrong time of year but,,,,,,,

[mulberry]

Got a text from my logging buddy saying he had a 11' long, 15" dia. shagbark that checked up to badly for them to use as a veneer log. He told me I could have it for 30 bucks and to bring a trailer. I just took my saw, sledge, wedges, and went to town. Ended up with 17, 76" staves, 7 sets of 40" billets, and a half truck load of fire/smoker wood. Hard to turn away a stick straight hickory log!!!

[JoJoDapyro]

Why wrong time?

[blackhawk]

Im always a take it when you can get it guy...even tho the sap is down its still very moist underneath the bark and it should still come off much easier now with a drawknive (carefully tho) than letting it dry out with it on later down the road. Soooo...get to peeling. Youll thank me later

[mulberry]

Guess the bark peels off really easy if cut late spring. I'll take 30$ logs of good wood anytime, so I guess there is no wrong time. The log checked in nearly perfect quarters on both ends. It told me where to work it and it went really well, start to finish. No staves under 2" wide!

[Pat B]

How long did the log lay on the ground before it checked?

[bowandarrow473]

Sound like a good harvest! Hope many bows come from those staves!

[mulberry]

How long did the log lay on the ground before it checked?

He said it was.cut this past monday. I trimmed all ends and it's clean stuff!!! Peeling some now and it is WET and stringy. Not so bad though.

[mulberry]

This may be a dumb question, but do I need to seal these backs?

[bowandarrow473]

On hickory, I wouldn't worry about it but if you want to be extra safe, a coat of shellac wouldn't hurt.

[Pat B]

Get it split down to staves and get it in the dry. Seal the ends and back if you remove the bark.

[mulberry]

Get it split down to staves and get it in the dry. Seal the ends and back if you remove the bark.

Staves are split, ends sealed with 4 coats of spar and now sealing the backs on the 2 I've removed the bark on. Thanks!!!

[Pat B]

Nice haul!