08-04-2007, 03:37 PM
Salvete all!
Now, on trees and stuff, I can offer a few pointers.
First: "a means of distinguishing coppiced wood from say, just the heartwood of a felled tree"
The use of coppiced wood implies the cutting of 8 to 12 year growth to get a nice 2 by 2 without the bark/sapwood and long, straight sides. This will mean the rings of the wood more or less follow the cylindrical profile of the shaft or post. In heartwood, this will take the appearence of commercial lumber, a plane on both sides, showing rings spaced close together on the other two sides. Where the plane runs out of the shaft, it will be weaker, so look to the sides with the rings showing to ensure the grain runs true.
Second: The major advantage of the coppicing system is the well developed rootsystem of the tree. This will enable fast growth in the shoots which sprout up. This in turn will allow regular harvest and you can select the diameter needed before cutting rather then wresting it out of a full sized log.
Third: Did you know some hardwoods can also be coppiced? Oak coppices just fine! Slower grower, but the staves are magic. I rate ash as an intermediate, but it has great grain and flex, makes nice bows, too.
Now, on trees and stuff, I can offer a few pointers.
First: "a means of distinguishing coppiced wood from say, just the heartwood of a felled tree"
The use of coppiced wood implies the cutting of 8 to 12 year growth to get a nice 2 by 2 without the bark/sapwood and long, straight sides. This will mean the rings of the wood more or less follow the cylindrical profile of the shaft or post. In heartwood, this will take the appearence of commercial lumber, a plane on both sides, showing rings spaced close together on the other two sides. Where the plane runs out of the shaft, it will be weaker, so look to the sides with the rings showing to ensure the grain runs true.
Second: The major advantage of the coppicing system is the well developed rootsystem of the tree. This will enable fast growth in the shoots which sprout up. This in turn will allow regular harvest and you can select the diameter needed before cutting rather then wresting it out of a full sized log.
Third: Did you know some hardwoods can also be coppiced? Oak coppices just fine! Slower grower, but the staves are magic. I rate ash as an intermediate, but it has great grain and flex, makes nice bows, too.
