Throwing Block?

[smo]

What's the best wood for a throwing block for hawks & knives?

 

[PA.1740]

I use pine.soft easy to stick.
Have Fun
Phil

 

[Darkgael]

I don't know about the "best" but what I have been using is hemlock. I had a couple of trees die from the wooly agelid. burned the branches and cut up the trunks into five foot sections. I chainsaw them in half vertically and use the slabs as throwing blocks.
Pete

 

[Moose Guide]

A six inch ringer off a 30" fir log works well for me!

 

[Preacher Jeremy]

I use ash, because it was available. I would say anything will work, (except maybe something like iron wood :idunno: ) so use what you have.

 

[necchi]

Willow is recommended, like Preacher I've had good luck with Ash.
Pine is fine, but it get's punky soon.
You can stick in a hardwood but they are tough on blades and edges, (a dickens to pull a hawk from an Oak block)

 

[smo]

Thanks,I was wondering if soft wood would be better than hard wood. I knew it would be easier to stick into,but wasn't sure how long it would last. Just my luck most of what I have here is hard wood.

 

[Howls at the Moon]

Depending on your location use what is available. I use cottonwood. It lasts a long time and is even better if the blocks are a little wet. When we used to put on the Rocky Mountain Knife and Hawk Challenge in Creede, CO we also used cootonwood. Pine and spurce splits to easy and is harder to stick your knife and hawk.
Howls

 

[necchi]

Oh if you can find a big pine, 16-18" or better and cut the block 12" thick or more you can get a full season maybe two out of it.
The idea is to cut it long, then "face it" as the end get's punky.
I've seen the tips break off good throwing knives in hard wood.

 

[smo]

Big Pine might be had to come by,Cottonwood I may have. :thumbsup: Thanks for the replies.

 

[dbutch]

SMO...Cottonwood works well..min 12" thick...

Here's one my 2 son's and there buddies pounded on for a couple years using nothing but throwing axes...

here's what the wife does to it for winter..

here's the latest replacement..cottonwood..."warning" get help getting it up they can be heavy!

 

[DNICK]

another vote for cottonwood they last a long time and dont split easly.

 

[RC]

when I was at alafia n florida, someone mentioned a block from a local tree that was the best block you could get cause it stayed wet..sorta self sealing..dang if i can remember which it was,,anyone heard of that? also hear willow is real good

 

[floyd1350]

down in florida likely it was cypress

 

[Sean Gadhar]

I use a six pack. When I see a tree cutter in the naborhood I buy a sixpack hand it to him and say "I sure would like three or four 6" rounds from near the bottem of that trunk, droped off in that yard down there. :wink:

It only didn't work once, He didn't drink, I went and got him a big Mac & a coke :grin: Had to drink the beer my own self :idunno:

 

[Rifleman1776]

I use pine.soft easy to stick.
Have Fun
Phil

Yep, agree. Soft.

 

[BillinOregon]

Dan, your latest cottonwood replacement is mighty handsome as is. It would make a fabulous table top with gobs of character.

 

[boar]

Here in Ohio I use creek willow. Works real good. One block out of Chinese Elm lasted the longest. Dilly

 

[smo]

Thanks again Guys for all the tips. I mostly have hardwoods here on my place that are the correct size.It appears all the cottonwoods and pines are to small cause I know i'm going to need a big target. :haha: The only creek willow I have are really small as well. I'm thinking cedar would last a long time and it's a soft wood,has anyone used cedar before.We have eastern red cedar here and some get rather large. :idunno:

 

[necchi]

Sure, and it'll smell purrty everytime you stick a hawk in it, :wink: