Re: Wrapping saplings around cracker box
In addition to all that Charles said, one secret to controlling the split is to bend harder on the side that's getting too thin. This will guide the split back to the center. Despite being experienced with woodwork himself, Thoreau ran into the same frustration watching an Indian split cedar roots for the first time, on a trip to Maine:
Barrel hoops were traditionally pounded after being soaked; if you run into problems, that might add some flexibility. Also, if you can cut them when there's more sap in them, the better, since that puts you ahead on moisture.
Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net
Originally posted by Charles Heath
He split the end with his knife, and taking a half between the thumb and forefinger of each hand, rapidly separated its whole length into two equal semi-cylindrical halves; then giving me another root, he said, "You try." But in my hands it immediately ran off one side, and I got only a very short piece. In short, though it looked very easy, I found that there was a great art in splitting these roots. The split is skilfully humored by bending short with this hand or that, and so kept in the middle
Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net
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