We'll, as far as I can tell; I think it is Lime.
If my identification is correct is this a good wood for a slingshot? I've done some carving with lime and it has a nice close grain.

 

It looks like some sort of ash to me. Hopefully, I'm not too far off.

 

I also think it's ash after having seen this picture elsewhere:

 

Thanks for the identification really appreciated I can see now that the leaf shape is different to the lime.

Any tips on forks to avoid and size I'm guessing bigger is ok, and I would be able to whittle or sand down to size ?
Thanks

 

Ash grows excellent forks. my favourite slingshot wood. often the centerbranch is dead and dry but on his sides two healthy and very symmetrical branches grow further on. this requires just a little debarking and/or sanding to have a wonderful strong slingshot.

the bark has several layers and if you manage to carve e.g. a makers mark only into the uppermost surface of the fresh green bark it will develop an even but two tone coloured surface after drying.

good choice give it a try!

 

Hi invasion, definitely Ash, something I use quite a bit for Cattie forks.

You can really go for any size, just depends what you want to do. I tend to choose fairly even forks about 1-2 inches in diameter. If I want to carve them then I'd choose slightly bigger.

If you cut them green I'd give them a bit of time to dry, Ash can split quite easily if you dry it too quickly but a bit of wood glue on the ends helps seal it and they dry a bit more evenly.

Happy hunting

 

One thing I can tell you it is not Lime, the flowers are not those of a lime tree. It looks like Ash.

 

Once you learn about 10 trees, you know 'atleast 50%' of what you will find...

But I'll let you decide: Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) is the second most common tree in the BRC database...

And the other thing mentioned Lime (Tilia x europaea)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linden_tree

 

Thanks for the advice everyone I'm sure it is Ash now
It's funny I can't go past a tree now, without, looking for forks my wife thinks I've gone nuts lol

Going out this afternoon to find some forks picked folding saw up today in the garden Centre don't think any branches will be giveing me much trouble

Before I go any thing I should know about cutting branches off trees regarding the law in UK? I've found a nice oak fork it is on a embankment. Road one side,then embankment, then farmers field the other am I ok pruning this ?

Thanks

 

I am afraid that you have been infected with the no cure disease, Must have Forkitis, fortunately it is not fatal but it will get progressively worst. Unlike most diseases you are allowed to spread this one without fear of being quarantined, as a matter of fact the more people you infect the better. Lol. Enjoy!

 

I am afraid that you have been infected with the no cure disease, Must have Forkitis, fortunately it is not fatal but it will get progressively worst. Unlike most diseases you are allowed to spread this one without fear of being quarantined, as a matter of fact the more people you infect the better. Lol. Enjoy!

Lol I thought I might of contracted something along those lines, and it is already getting worse

 

Mmmmm, not sure about legal rights. Typically land owners permission does the trick, but I've been collecting and acquiring forks and sticks for years and never had any bother.

That said I do try to be subtle and if I'm honest I'd always look for forks lying on the ground (of which there are generally plenty in a well wooded areas) or take smaller sections from copsed wood. I always avoid cutting chunks off trees though, as soon as you make a cut you increase the chance of something nasty getting into it.

Once you've got your eye in you'll be seeing forks everywhere and be tripping over them.

 

Mmmmm, not sure about legal rights. Typically land owners permission does the trick, but I've been collecting and acquiring forks and sticks for years and never had any bother.
That said I do try to be subtle and if I'm honest I'd always look for forks lying on the ground (of which there are generally plenty in a well wooded areas) or take smaller sections from copsed wood. I always avoid cutting chunks off trees though, as soon as you make a cut you increase the chance of something nasty getting into it.
Once you've got your eye in you'll be seeing forks everywhere and be tripping over them.

I will certainly will look for stuff on the floor first And will only take something of a tree if it won't effect the overall tree. I wouldn't want to take big chunks off. I was reading about making an undercut first, then top cut a bit further up this is to stop the branch splitting down to trunk.
Thanks

 

I get the vast majority of my forks off the ground. Go out after a storm and there will be more ground fall than you know what to do with.

It's best to avoid putting yourself in a position where someone could take issue with your pruning. Even people for whom it's none of their business like to do a bit of vigilante complaining

 

If you find that to die for fork and you must cut, use a little bit of pruning spray or wax to protect the cut part of the tree,

 

Went out this afternoon and found this on a branch that had been broken off. So all had to do was cut off the fork on the floor.

Not sure on its size. Seems chunky, but then I guess I can carve it down and shape. Better to be too big than to small

I think it is Ash. Anyhow I have taken bark off and put some glue on ends to help it not to crack. How long should it take to dry and what options are available to me ?? Oven?? Microwave ?? etc

 

Nice, big and good space between forks. As far as drying goes you started right by gluing the end. I like the inside wind shield method. Of course that depends on how green the branch was to begin with. If you ask. Ten people you will probably get ten different answers. In the end it depends on how badly you wish to assassinate sone soda tins.

 

Nice, big and good space between forks. As far as drying goes you started right by gluing the end. I like the inside wind shield method. Of course that depends on how green the branch was to begin with. If you ask. Ten people you will probably get ten different answers. In the end it depends on how badly you wish to assassinate sone soda tins.

If I had my way it would be banded up tonight
What would happen if it was shaped and sealed before it was fully dry?
The other thing was how much can I afford to take of forks before it weakens them or is that how long is a bit of string type question.

 

Oh NO! Forkits is a progressive disease? I just found the site and already carry a bag in the truck with a large folding saw, pruning spray, a note pad for those I will need a chain saw for and end sealing glue and string to attach labels. Is there any treatment to slow the advancement?

 

It gets rapidly worst, unfortunately, sorry to be the harbinger of bad news.
When I was young we banded them up as soon as we got the bark off, sometimes we did not even wait for that. I do not remember any unfortunate things happening, if they did I would have remembered. Good luck it can dry with or without bands!

 

Nice, big and good space between forks. As far as drying goes you started right by gluing the end. I like the inside wind shield method. Of course that depends on how green the branch was to begin with. If you ask. Ten people you will probably get ten different answers. In the end it depends on how badly you wish to assassinate sone soda tins.

If I had my way it would be banded up tonight
What would happen if it was shaped and sealed before it was fully dry?
The other thing was how much can I afford to take of forks before it weakens them or is that how long is a bit of string type question.

You'll be ok to shape it while its green, and there's nothing that says you can't put bands on it and shoot it green either if you want. The forks will dry naturally over time and as they do they'll change in shape and size.

You'll struggle to get a fantastic finish working the green wood due to the moisture content but you'll certainly get a serviceable catty. I'd avoid sealing the wood until its dry(er) though because you'll end up sealing the moisture in and over time it'll spoil/rot.

As far as fork size is concerned it depends on what you want to shoot with it I suppose, I find it easier to leave the forks thicker and then you can fit either large or small bands.

Good luck

 

Done some shaping and sanding on my fork today. Before I did this Put it the microwave to dry out some more.

Only thing that worries me is the knot looks like it has split a little like a start shape ? Is this normal ?
Any opinions on this natural would be greatly appreciated

Overall I'm pleased just got to cut grooves in forks and band it up. Going to wait a week or two before sealing.

 

Looks nice !!

 

That looks really good. I can tell by the grain that when you get some oil or wax on it it's gonna look ace. You don't need to cut the forks before attaching bands, I never have. If you fix the bands over the top with either elastic bands or TBG off cuts the friction keeps them soundly fixed..

 

Looks nice !!

Thanks. I am pleased with it for my first

That looks really good. I can tell by the grain that when you get some oil or wax on it it's gonna look ace. You don't need to cut the forks before attaching bands, I never have. If you fix the bands over the top with either elastic bands or TBG off cuts the friction keeps them soundly fixed..

Thanks I'm really looking forward to seeing it with a finish on would you go with wax or oil finish ? I also wondered about staining it to give some colour.
Thanks for the tip on the bands....although I had already cut them before reading