Sassafras?

[critman]

Anyone ever used Sassafras for a riser? If so, pics would be appreciated!

[snapper1d]

I have cut a lot of it down here and all were just real white wood heart and all.I have seen pics of it with darker colors in it.

[takefive]

I used it along with a strip of redheart for the handle on the first BBO I made.  The piece I had was greyish and it reminded me of elm.  Love the way that it smells, though I have heard that it is somewhat toxic.  What isn't these days?    :rolleyes:

[JamesV]

The sassafrass I have is grey with wide grouth rings making for a beautiful riser.

[gobbler716]

That's very nice.  I have a couple of these trees that I will be cutting down soon.  They will be set up for about a year, then become some nice archery products.

[Roy from Pa]

Is Sassafras pretty strong wood?

[critman]

That's another thing I was wondering Roy. I have some dried and ready to go.

[KenH]

Roy -- Sassafras isn't particularly "strong".  How do you mean "strong" though?  Bendable rather than breakable (like Ash vs Balsa)?  Resistant to denting (Ipe compared to Aspen)or something else.

I use it to make mountain dulcimers, and it's a lovely wood to work.  

Under clear glass it would make pretty laminations, and in thicker pieces a nice riser.  But not so much a stickbow.  Not much of a modulus of elasticity...

[George Tsoukalas]

No, not so strong. I used one for a selfie. Jawge

[snapper1d]

I have never tried using it for a bow but it does make a good tea!!!! And smells good.

[Roy from Pa]

I was wondering how it would work as a 12 inch riser on a BBO bow, for strength? Say 1" thick by 1 1/4 wide at flares. And how does it hold up to small bumps? Is it soft like yew which you can indent with your finger nail?

[JamesV]

It is a soft wood and not very strong. It makes beautiful accents in Walnut, and cherry risers

[typical2]

I have a bunch of sassafras tapered laminations ready to go into a few Hill styles.  Sure smells good.  I usually like heavier woods for risers.

[Todd Cook]

I don't think I would use it in a riser unless something else was supporting it. I really like it as a lamination.

[KellyG]

I never have time when I am back east to cut any. I know where a lot of it is at. But I want a couple of staves. I do get a few roots to make me some tea!

[Furtaker]

Sassafrass works great for a core in limbs but I wouldn't use it alone in a riser for anything over say, a 40# draw wieght.

[7 Lakes]

It would be interesting to try it in a glass laminated bow.  Perhaps the best use was...
After the "New World" was discovered, Sassafrass tea was thought to be a cure for veneral disease throughout Europe.  A pound of dried bark and roots at one time traded for a pound of gold.

[Bowjunkie]

Awesome glass bow lams under clear glass. I wouldnt use it in a riser though.

[Hatrick]

This is a picture of sassafras lams stained walnut. Makes a real nice lam and easy to work with. Just watch the saw dust as it's not real good for your health! I wouldn't use it as the main wood in a riser, maybe for accent stripes.