How to make a dowel ....

[Buckshot]

Whilst doing some repairs to the pen the other day we were using a branch as a batton to knock a post into the ground.
As usually happens with rotting wood the batton broke - but in a very unusual way...

Has anyone seen this before?

Cheers

Mark

 

[falcon]

Having seen the post in its entirety before it broke, would you assume the the "dowel" was in fact some kind of pith ? Also was it previously a larch-type fence post (it looks smooth) or just a branch that was lying around ? Interesting....

 

[bloodline]

Not seen ought like that, what wood was it ?


nice pics

 

[Buckshot]

It was actually Roving Rich who was waving it around. I was holding the fence post upright for him to hit. 'When I nod my head you hit it'
I think I remember the correctly that it was half of a post that he was using as the batton rather than a branch but I could be wrong.
Pictures taken using my phone (Sony-Ericson K750i, 2mb picture) - a very sunny day helps of course!

The 'dowel' was definately the centre of the peice of wood so I assume it was the pith or heart wood or what ever it's called.
Just very strange it broke like that...

 

[Longstrider]

I have seen similar breaks in willow, alder, sycamore and, funnily enough a fence post that was made of I'm-not-sure-what-it-is wood, but never to this extent of such a fine "dowel" being left, or quite so long. I'd say it was definitely worth the photo.

 

[Rob]

I will buy Rich a pint if he can make me a couple of metres of that dowel

I have not seen anything quite that good before, but i guess if the decay is just at the right stage, then the structure of the tree would make it possible.