Natural wood pistol stock

[Lucky Buckeye]

Hey folks. I been so busy getting moved to another house I haven't posted in a good while. I can't  recommend moving ( on yer own) if your over sixty. What a pain (every day)! I had to cut down this over grown bush in the yard...no idea what it was but it had a nice curved limb I noticed that was a pistol stock within. It's some real tough Azz wood so might be a bad idea ...guess we'll see, no? Wondering if some of you pros know the cons for using a natural bend blank. That wood turns red when wet. Might be real nice. Btw, my new yard has a lot of big oaks and this house is a one level ranch type so only three stairs to pull and yer on the poarch. The trees sold it to me. I think I can stay here a while. Alright, good to be back.
Lucky

[William]

I would worry about how you are going to dry the wood to the point that it doesn't split or warp once you get to working on it.  If air drying then plan on one year before starting to carve it.

[Dogshirt]

I've never used this stuff but my Uncle the woodcarver told me about it.

http://www.rockler.com/polyethylene-glycol-peg-green-wood-stabilizer

[William]

I've never used this stuff but my Uncle the woodcarver told me about it.

http://www.rockler.com/polyethylene-glycol-peg-green-wood-stabilizer

Neat! I never knew there was such a thing. You ought to give this a try Lucky.

[Lucky Buckeye]

I would worry about how you are going to dry the wood to the point that it doesn't split or warp once you get to working on it.  If air drying then plan on one year before starting to carve it.

Aye...familiar with that being a woodworker anyway. It is so humid here on the coast I just leave on bark an leave on the porch...stuff usually drys out nice. I have made about ten or so walking sticks from limbs and they do just fine as you say, about a year.

[Lucky Buckeye]

I've never used this stuff but my Uncle the woodcarver told me about it.

http://www.rockler.com/polyethylene-glycol-peg-green-wood-stabilizer

Neat! I never knew there was such a thing. You ought to give this a try Lucky.

Too pricy for me. Might take a year to get up some pistol parts anyway. No hurry.
My thinking is a natural bend is a much stronger piece than something cut out of a straight grained board. No matter how one lays the grain for a rough out there will always be a split prone area somewhere...right? First time you shoot that new Kentucky use two hands...that top half might just knock you winding yeah?