Guest hyperion Posted April 18, 2009 Report Share Posted April 18, 2009 there is'nt a lot of hazel around my way but i do have access to a large amount of sweet chessnut! does any one know if its any good for making pegs?, its easy to work with but im just wondering would it be a bit too easy to split once the hole is drilled through it for the cord! ive tried using galvy wire as pegs but the ground round me is so stoney they just end up as a bent mess nine times out of ten! cheers hyperion Quote Link to post
Holdaway 2 Posted April 18, 2009 Report Share Posted April 18, 2009 Ash would be better I think. I know nothing about sweet chestnut, but almost any wood that is easily workable when green and seasons into a good hard peg would work. H Quote Link to post
OldTrapCollector 377 Posted April 18, 2009 Report Share Posted April 18, 2009 The straight sappers at the base of chestnut trees makes very good pegs - it splits straight too OTC Quote Link to post
Rolfe 2 Posted April 18, 2009 Report Share Posted April 18, 2009 Ash is about the best if sawn in about 8-10 inch rings and then split and shaped in the green. But elder is just as good in my opinion and when dry and hardened is super lightweight and as hard as steel. Snareman gave me an elder snare peg that had once belonged to a professional rabbit trapper to try out..... and i was amazed just how tough they were. Rolfe Quote Link to post
ellir0305 9 Posted April 18, 2009 Report Share Posted April 18, 2009 The straight sappers at the base of chestnut trees makes very good pegs - it splits straight too OTC i use hazel rods i know this is a tangent but 20mm to an inch size cut the 7-8" lengths point and drill nice and light also strong, but any coppiced or suckered shoots would do Quote Link to post
OldTrapCollector 377 Posted April 18, 2009 Report Share Posted April 18, 2009 Elder was what I always used back in the day, it stinks when you cut it first off but the smell goes off quickly and, as you say, they are very lightweight. OTC Quote Link to post
Guest Catcher Posted April 18, 2009 Report Share Posted April 18, 2009 there is'nt a lot of hazel around my way but i do have access to a large amount of sweet chessnut! does any one know if its any good for making pegs?, its easy to work with but im just wondering would it be a bit too easy to split once the hole is drilled through it for the cord! ive tried using galvy wire as pegs but the ground round me is so stoney they just end up as a bent mess nine times out of ten! cheers hyperion I have got two sweet chessnuts lol if only catcher Quote Link to post
Guest hyperion Posted April 18, 2009 Report Share Posted April 18, 2009 cheers for the replys guys! got plenty of elder about the place so might give it a go! cheers hyperion Quote Link to post
trapperman 474 Posted April 18, 2009 Report Share Posted April 18, 2009 elder is very good, i switched to making all my pegs from elder after reading it in a book, its lighter than ash when dry and very tough Quote Link to post
trapperman 474 Posted April 18, 2009 Report Share Posted April 18, 2009 elder is very good, i switched to making all my pegs from elder after reading it in a book, its lighter than ash when dry and very tough sorry forgot to say that you`ve left it a bit late to cut pegs you should cut them after leaf fall in the dorment season as the sap is now rising, i dont know how this will effect wood cut now but it may make it more brittle? Quote Link to post
Guest hyperion Posted April 18, 2009 Report Share Posted April 18, 2009 elder is very good, i switched to making all my pegs from elder after reading it in a book, its lighter than ash when dry and very tough sorry forgot to say that you`ve left it a bit late to cut pegs you should cut them after leaf fall in the dorment season as the sap is now rising, i dont know how this will effect wood cut now but it may make it more brittle? dont know!, could take longer to season i guess but if worst comes to worst ive got some meranti from work! might need a diamond blade to cut that stuff though! cheers hyperion Quote Link to post
ellir0305 9 Posted April 18, 2009 Report Share Posted April 18, 2009 elder is very good, i switched to making all my pegs from elder after reading it in a book, its lighter than ash when dry and very tough sorry forgot to say that you`ve left it a bit late to cut pegs you should cut them after leaf fall in the dorment season as the sap is now rising, i dont know how this will effect wood cut now but it may make it more brittle? dont know!, could take longer to season i guess but if worst comes to worst ive got some meranti from work! might need a diamond blade to cut that stuff though! cheers hyperion yeah it will only take longer to season and tools will need cleaning more often, but in the long run it should be fine it will be more supple now cos of the sap andeasier to bend Quote Link to post
trapperman 474 Posted April 18, 2009 Report Share Posted April 18, 2009 elder is very good, i switched to making all my pegs from elder after reading it in a book, its lighter than ash when dry and very tough sorry forgot to say that you`ve left it a bit late to cut pegs you should cut them after leaf fall in the dorment season as the sap is now rising, i dont know how this will effect wood cut now but it may make it more brittle? dont know!, could take longer to season i guess but if worst comes to worst ive got some meranti from work! might need a diamond blade to cut that stuff though! cheers hyperion yeah it will only take longer to season and tools will need cleaning more often, but in the long run it should be fine it will be more supple now cos of the sap andeasier to bend i only mentioned it because i grow willow for hurdle making etc and if you harvest it when the sap is rising it doesant last half as long, dont know if this is the same for all woods tho. Quote Link to post
rabbit tourmentor 29 Posted April 18, 2009 Report Share Posted April 18, 2009 what you want to do is cut your chosen wood and stick it in the airing cuboard and forget about it for 4 weeks and then i will be dry and it wont split atb r..t Quote Link to post
ellir0305 9 Posted April 18, 2009 Report Share Posted April 18, 2009 elder is very good, i switched to making all my pegs from elder after reading it in a book, its lighter than ash when dry and very tough sorry forgot to say that you`ve left it a bit late to cut pegs you should cut them after leaf fall in the dorment season as the sap is now rising, i dont know how this will effect wood cut now but it may make it more brittle? dont know!, could take longer to season i guess but if worst comes to worst ive got some meranti from work! might need a diamond blade to cut that stuff though! cheers hyperion yeah it will only take longer to season and tools will need cleaning more often, but in the long run it should be fine it will be more supple now cos of the sap andeasier to bend i only mentioned it because i grow willow for hurdle making etc and if you harvest it when the sap is rising it doesant last half as long, dont know if this is the same for all woods tho. willow is bad for going rotten, i live in the middle of the somerset levels so im surrounded by the stuff, if you season a hardish wood well you should have no trouble sweet chestnut splits lovely though if you can get some big rings of it knock out square pegs in no time Quote Link to post
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