[Regia-NA] geteld

[J K Siddorn]

We use ash partly because that is the wood used for the frame of the Gokstad
ship tent, one of only two examples known.

Additionally, it is an excellent constructional timber and it makes sense
now just as it did then, to make structural timbers out of flexible
hardwood.

In the US, hickory would be fine and is virtually indistinguishable from ash
in characteristics and in use.

Red and black oak are not suitable as they are pretty but poor in tensional
strength. ANY softwood - pine, fir, birch etc - will give trouble as it just
isn't strong enough. Beech or elm would be OK - but they are not as good as
ash or hickory.

If you get a tree trunk and split it into planks with wedges, please take
lots of photos!

Regards,

Kim Siddorn

Bacon is a friend
in the salad bowl of life


----- Original Message -----
From: "Douglas Sunlin" <dsunlin@hotmail.com>
To: <list-regia-na@lig.net>
Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2003 6:28 PM
Subject: Re: [Regia-NA] geteld


> I think ash is used because that is the wood from the Viking tents in the
ship burials. We buy it squared at the lumber yard, though it would have
likely been round from coppice wood.
>
>
>
> >Is the squared wood by design or necessity? Also, is Ash a requisite or
> >could I use hickory or birch. I've been warned off of American Red Oak as
> >being outright un-saxon-like. I do have a 15' black oak I could plank up
> >though. Any UK arborists that could tell me the say, top 5 most common
> >native species? I'd be more inclined to use "poles" as I can get them
easily
> >and many of us "less educated types" would assume a peeled tree pole is
less
> >work and is what would be used. Do we know if the Saxons used riven board
or
> >pole? I've read that there's documentary evidence to suggest there were
anly
> >a very few "great saws" in Anglorum at that time. I'd make a breakdown
> >timber frame if it was period. Would be fun. With a good board with some
> >extra width one could carve a very saxon looking beast on the end of the
> >cross bar.
> >
> >_______________________________________________
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>
>
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