Cotton Wood, too green to use now??

[Kentucky Bill]

I received a cotton wood order today and noticed that some of the wood is a little greener than any I have ever used before. My question is, how can I tell if it is too green to use now? The back of the wood is much harder to clean than normal and I actually can see what looks like green wood after I cleaned the back.

Should I allow it too dry for some period of time before using it, and if so, how long?

[Mottles]

Boy Bill, are your talking about the Cottonwood Bark and not the tree wood? I carve Cottonwood Bark and have carved Cottonwood Limb. If it was mine to deal with I would weigh on the safe side and let it dry. If you could leave it indoors it would of course dry faster. Sounds like you are talking about Bark and the back-side should just all but peel off.
You might also contact the folks you ordered your Cottonwood from and ask them the same questions.
Hopefully, someone will comment that has more knowledge than I.

By the way Welcome,
Kathy

[Colin-Partridge]

I have taken it off the tree and carved it the next day my opinon is that it carves great green and great dry. There is not a lot of moisture in the bark anyway. Unless it has been in the water or is wet from rain, if so just let it dry for a few days inside it should be fine. Beware also though if its too old it will get punky and then it is impossibe to carve. Just my two cents others may have more experience than I do.
Colin

[Kentucky Bill]

Sorry about that, yes I am talking Bark. The other give-a-away that the wood is pretty green was the odor I got from the wood while cleaning the back. It was pretty strong. I have it stored in the basement where it will dry a little.

[artolver]

Hello, It sounds like it might be off a live tree? In all the years that I have harvested & carved bark I don't believe I have had any green bark. I only get from dead standing tree or downed dead trees. You never want to cut off a live tree. It sounds like you might want to let it dry if it is the bark. Then try carving a small area first to see how it works out. Have fun!

Art & Dorothy

[artolver]

Sorry Folks, I forgot what I should be talking about the cottonwood trees. When way back & we first got the computer, around 7-10 years ago, I did a search on Cottonwood trees and it must have given about 60 different kinds of the trees or more. Most of the large thick cottonwood bark that I use is more in the high Mountain area. They go all the way from Alaska & all the way down to Colorado for all I know! So maybe the green isn't from a live tree like I was thinking! So many kinds!

Art & Dorothy