Hard Cottonwood Bark??

[Kentucky Bill]

Some of the cottonwood bark I purchase is much harder than "normal" cottonwood bark. Another characteristic of the hard bark is that it is much heavier than "normal" bark.

My question is, why is some bark much harder than normal bark. Is there anything that I can do to soften the bark as I carve it?

Thanks.

[Mottles]

Bill:
I haven't had any experience with 'hard' cottonwood bark before. You, say it's heavy maybe it's still very wet??? Seems though if it were wet it would be fairly easy to cut??? Did you harvest the bark yourself???
Sorry for all the questions, but I'm kind of baffled about the 'harder than normal' statement.

Hopefully someone will come along and give us some insite to your question.
Sorry I couldn't help ya out.

If I didn't welcome you earlier I'll welcome you now. WELCOME

Merry Christmas

[Colin-Partridge]

Bill I dont know why some is hard and some not. I have one piece that I picked up somewhere that you would never carve with a knife it would take a mallet and chisel. My piece is very heavy as well. All I can suggest is maybe it is from a different area and not the same as the stuff that grows in the mid west. Having said that this piece is the only cottonwood bark I have ever seen this hard. My piece must be ten years old.
Colin

[Kentucky Bill]

To answer your question Kathy concerning if the bark was still wet. No, all I have is very dry. I guess I have gotten five pieces over the last year that is like this. It has all come from states in the north west and I have gotten it from different sellers.

[Mottles]

Bill, send Art Olver on this site a message with what you have posted here. He is very knowledgeable about Cottonwood Bark and just might have the answer for you.

My Cottonwood Bark is close to my home and I harvest it myself....When I buy Cottonwood Bark it's Montana Black and is absolutely the Best for me. Our Cottonwood we have here in Arizona isn't that nice thick 3"-4"-5" inch bark from the Northern States.

Good luck, I know buying Cottonwood Bark until you find the right seller can be a problem.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

I have bought bark from Art and it was great, bought some at a carving show and it was hard as a rock. I guess it depends where it comes from?

Dave

[artolver]

Hi Bill,

I don't know that I really have the answer to that either. All the years that I have gathered usually the bark was soft. I sometimes ran in to a harder bark. It didn't seem to make a difference in the area. I have thought that some gets damper and when it continues to dry it gets denser and it isn't wet but it is heavy! I also noticed recently that some of my own bark that was gathered and covered for many years seems to be getting harder? I gather in Montana and then take some to Wa. and I'm not sure if it is from the climate! I don't think I have shipped you bark before? It really is a good question Bill! Anybody else have an answer? Makes good flutes & turnings though!

Dorothy & Art

[Ky_Whittler]

If your picking some up from river banks here in Ky , you may be getting some chestnut oak bark. Outside is hard. But once you get that outer coating off it works fairly decent. I pick up my own. Most is about 2 inches thick but on occasion I run into a really nice chunk. Whittler

[artolver]

Wow ....when I first around computers, 11 years back. I tryed to learn about Cottonwood trees and guess what ...I found so much different cottonwood types.
The one that I to work with huge trees.....
art

[artolver]

I am trying to say that I am an old carver dude.
I am an Easter born april 5th kid 1940.
I started cottonwood bark 1973 and never stop