hickory question

[goobersan]

how big is too big? a friend of mine has a 30+" tree to cut down. should I consider some for a self bow if the grain looks straight?

[Bowjunkie]

I would. I'd love to get my hands on a clean 30" smoothbark hickory for staves, backing strips, and arrows.

[Echatham]

how big is too big to split is the question.  I would have to be feeling mighty froggy to tackle a job like that.  don't see why it wouldn't work, just alot of work to split.  the hickory staves i have split out have been out of trees less than 12" diameter.  hickory is a pain to split anyway.. very stringy.

[Bowjunkie]

It would be more work, that's for sure. I've never split a hickory that big either, but I'd sure give a good effort. If I thought it was too big to split it, I'd take it to a sawmill. A buddy of mine has a portable band saw mill. That would be the ticket.

[John Scifres]

No way for me.  Maybe have it cut and then milled but I would never tackle something that big.  The biggest osage I have split was 18".  It sucked so bad just to position the damn thing I would never do it again.  Give me a nice 12-14" diameter log anytime.  I'm a wimp  

[goobersan]

well I'm gonna give it a shot then. this guys friend has a steam powered sawmill. if all goes well I will get a video for you guys to see. thanks for the encouragement.    

[Roy from Pa]

Go for it goober boy:)

[Dogbyte]

its 30 inches at chest level? or at its base?

[goobersan]

not sure Dog. We'll be cutting it in October. It would be real nice if I could get a bunch of staves cheap and easy. I'll have to have a lot of glue with me