Another mongolian tulip (aka hackberry)???

[k-hat]

Went for the 24" osage trunk and it was gone, but saw this and said i better put this chainsaw to work while i still have it (rental).  I researched and found the owner (investment broker) and asked permission.  I'm thinking hackberry?

 

 

Here is a little more closeup of the bark and some leaves:

 

Thanks for any help tree-ophiles:)

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Yep that's hackberry. It splits like a dream and draw knifes like butter, the bark will peel off with your hands if you do it right. Be careful not to damage the back that's under the bark when you peel it because that is the back of your bow. It's nearly impossible to chase a ring on Hackberry, I know it can be done but extremely difficult. Just don't nick the back or gouge it with the draw knife like I did and you'll have some good staves out of that tree.

I'm still working on my first hackberry bow but it's been put on hold until I get my swap bow done then I'll finish up the hackberry.

Pearl Drums just finished a hackberry bendy handle flat bow and he loves it.

[k-hat]

Thanks semo!  Pearl's bow is what put me onto it, i remembered the texture of the bark from his pics and was pretty sure it was the same.  I got three 80" logs from that trunk, mostly straight and very nice looking.  Now i'm really excited!!!  

I called the county and the lady i talked to is checking on that osage trunk.  She said it should be still mostly intact.  I don't know what kind of shape it'll be in after 3 or 4 days though:/

[SEMO_HUNTER]

If you take a skill saw and score a line down the center of the back of those staves then split them from the center out toward the ends you could probably get twice that many staves out of it. I got 6 staves from a log that measured 10" acrossed by splitting the bigger ones in half again. That one you got there is bigger than the one I had.

What did you do with the rest of the tree? Looks like you got at least another log maybe 2 more in there? Or does the pic just make it look taller?

[k-hat]

Pic just makes it look taller.  I cut my three logs from stump up to the big V.  There on up was firewood.  

I've never split wood for anything but firewood, but i think i get what you're saying.  Maybe split the log initially into quarters, then do the skill saw thing to split'em again?  Well, now i've gotta brush up on my log splitting before i ruin somethin!!

[WestTexan]

Kevin do just as Semo said it works really well doing it that way.One thing I did was use a small hammer and just tap the bark and it will loosen it and you can peal it right off..don't hit to hard tho it will dent the back it's real soft at this point till it dries. It takes heat real well, Ive got several more staves left and I'm gonna cut a bunch more when it cools off some...a breezy 110 here today.

[Roy from Pa]

Looks like Mongolian Tulip to me too:)

[Dan Landis]

I just got a large limb from a blow down tree that is 70" long, and 10 -12 in dia.  Using the same method of sawing with a skill saw, then splitting with wedges like Semo mentioned I was able to get 8 nice staves out of mine.  Sealed the back and ends with shellac.....Dan

[Stiks-n-Strings]

I built a Mollie out of hackberry and it turned out to be a sweet shooter for sure. I think it's a very good bow wood that get's passed over quite a bit.

 You'll like it.

 Stiks

[k-hat]

After reading it again, i think i got the picture.  I sealed the ends on site and they're waiting on me to pick them up.  Can't wait to get started!!  How long to dry if i get them pretty close to bow blank dimensions??

Thanks again for the help and encouragement!

[Stiks-n-Strings]

if you work it down green Kevin you may want to clamp it to a caul to prevent it from warping and twisting on you. Take it down to where it just starts to bend a little.

 You can have a bow from green wood in about 3 months minimum with different techniques. You may want to steam it before you clamp it. The steam will actually speed the drying time some. You can also put it in a hot box kept around 85 or 90 degrees max while it is clamped to a caul.

 Lots of info here and other places on white wood bows.

 good luck, Stiks

[PEARL DRUMS]

I roughed mine out the day I cut it down. It sat that way unclamped for 4 weeks in my shop on a flat surface, I built and completed the bow one week later and it is just dandy. One of my favorites actually.

[Stiks-n-Strings]

I have some hackberry in the garage that is still green. I may rough a few out and see what happens.
 
 Pearl what time of year did you cut your wood? Guess your experience goes to show that mileage does vary. The info I posted was based on what I figure as a baseline but every wood species does react different so it's good to know that Hackberry could be a bow a little quicker than say hickory or osage. That's what great about the bench is we can all learn from each other.

 Love that bow you just posted by the way.
 
 I know I like it on the one I made and plan to use it often.

 Stiks

[PEARL DRUMS]

I cut my wood just as the buds starting poking out, no leaves on any trees. The bark came off pretty easy with my hatchet so Im guessing most of the sap was up. Keep in mind the thickest part of that roughed out bow was a heavy 5/8". Wood that thin takes only a few weeks to dry in my bone dry basement shop. I think Hackberry being as lightweight as it is contributes to speedy drying as well. I realize there is a difference between dry and seasoned wood, I will use either!