Hello guys, Ive got a real life experienced bowyer sending me a hickory stave but ive never worked a stave. So in the mean time I had a guy give me this hickory log that was in his uncles barn. It was cut last summer and was destined for fire wood but the ole timer passed away. Know idea if there is a stave in it I think so. If not there are tons of handles and several walking sticks in it I know. Also something to practice chasing a ring with before I cut into a real stave. What do you guys think? Like I said it was cut last summer then sat on a trailer in a barn until today. There is some checking on the fat end seems to be pretty solid though I wacked it good with my Hudson bay and not much penetration the bark is like iron on it. Or do I need better pics? That's a 6 foot yard stick by the way log is a good 8 feet.
 
 
 

To be honest, it looks like firewood.  But, I have access to as much wood as I need and I only take the best pieces.  If you need smaller pieces go for it.  Maybe you can get a couple of billets out of it too.  If nothing else you get some experiences splitting and bark removal.  Chasing a ring is not necessary on hickory - you can remove bark and go.

How long you have to wait for your stave?

mwosborn, My stave will be here Monday or so. This log was free so like I said handles and walking sticks if nothing else. But like you said some practice may be there as well.

Monday is quick - in the mean time start whittling on that free log!

John, how long ago was it cut. If left in the weather it's a goner. Doesn't take hickory long for fungi to set in.
It should be good smoking wood though.
Compare it to the one I sent you when you get it.

Thanks Pat, it was cut last summer and stored in a barn. It was free,I know I can get some use out of it even if its not stave material. Smoking wood sounds good.

Smoke it up. Bad for bows. Riser material only.

Yep, I'd pass on that one as far as staves are concerned. Nothing better than hickory smoked venison though.

Here is a hickory log...

Sweet. You cut those local?

Bowjunkie did.

Yeah, I got those just down the road from here a couple of years ago. They were good ones. Big, clear, and straight, I cut as much of them quartersawn as I could on my buddy's sawmill, but got some staves and billets too.

I quit taking wood from well meaning folk who had no knowledge about making a bow. The last I got from a guy at work was a locust log that had been cut from a fence line. When I split it, it had at least a half dozen grown over 16 penny nails in it that someone had used to fasten a fence to it.
Sure glad I didn't run it through my bandsaw first.

QuoteOriginally posted by Eric Krewson:
I quit taking wood from well meaning folk who had no knowledge about making a bow. The last I got from a guy at work was a locust log that had been cut from a fence line. When I split it, it had at least a half dozen grown over 16 penny nails in it that someone had used to fasten a fence to it.
Sure glad I didn't run it through my bandsaw first.

Nothing more true than words of wisdom.

I don't see any staves in that log.

Clint, you may have given me that hickory stave a few years ago at the Classic.