Inner hickory bark may be obtained of manufacturers of rustic furniture either directly or indirectly. They may be obtained first hand if hickory trees grow in the locality, thus enhancing the educational value of weaving. In the spring or early summer when the sap is up and the bark slips easily, a hickory tree may be cut down, and the rough outer bark shaved with a draw knife from the top of the log the full length of the trunk, leaving a surface from 8 in. to 10 in. wide. With a heavy knife split the inner bark on either side of the shaved strip; then beginning at one end peel back the inner bark the full length of the log. This process may be repeated until the log is stripped. The thickness of the inner bark depends upon the size of the tree and the species. Manufacturers of hickory furniture claim that the pignut possesses a thicker bark than any other species, the bark running from ¼ in. to ¾ in. in thickness, and they accordingly use this tree in preference to others when available. The rolls of thick inner bark are allowed to dry for several weeks. Then they are placed in water, to remain until pliable. They are then split into strips of proper thickness and width. Factories use a very simple motor driven machine for making the strips, and any manual training shop can devise some scheme for accomplishing this work. These strips cut in indefinite lengths must be made pliant by a thoro soaking just previous to use. In weaving they should be pressed close together with the fingers or with the aid of a hammer, as there is an appreciable shrinkage especially in their width upon drying. Such strips are used mainly by builders of rustic outdoor and porch furniture for the weaving of the backs, arms and seats of chairs, and have at present no general use in school shops. Their use here should be encouraged. If bought of the manufacturer these strips cost 40 cents per pound, dry. They are put up in coils, and are ¾ in. wide and ¹⁄16 in. thick. They may be stripped into narrower widths by means of a hand stripper, soon to be described.
FIG. 50. SKETCH OF HAND STRIPPER AND GAGE.
Indian splints of ash and hickory may be obtained from dealers in the raw products. These strips are cut from the wood of the tree in long shavings in a manner similar to obtaining the inner hickory bark, and stripped into desired widths and thicknesses. One kind of ash splint is made in three weights or thicknesses, fine, medium and heavy, and in strips 1½ in. wide. It is sold in coils of 200 ft. each at $8.00 for 4,000 ft. The strips are a number of feet in length. Hickory splints are sold in coils of a dozen strands each. These strands are 8 ft. to 10 ft. long by ½ in. wide, and slightly less than ¹⁄16 in. thick. A coil weighs about three-fourths of a pound and costs 5 cents.
FIG. 51. WORKING DRAWING OF HAND STRIPPER AND GAGE.
The ash splints particularly, need to be restripped to widths needed by the worker. For ordinary purposes the hickory strips are right for seating purposes. The stripping is done by means of a combination hand stripper and gage shown in [Fig. 50]. A working drawing of it is shown in [Fig. 51]. It is made of maple preferably. The cutters are of a watch spring, pointed and sharpened as indicated. The end piece is removable to permit changes of the cutters. To use, merely hold the splint flat between the right hand and stripper, press the strand down on the cutter and pull it across the cutters with the left hand. Two persons may do the operation more readily and speedily than one. It is a good policy to make several of these devices with cutters at different distances apart so splints of various widths may be cut without resort to a change of cutters.
Splints need to be soaked in water for a number of minutes before using. They will be found to be somewhat less pliable than inner hickory bark, and different in color, varying from almost white to a light brown. Inner bark is a nut brown in color. The splints stain well, and may be dipped in identically the same manner as reeds. Inner bark needs no stain; in fact is more pleasing if left natural.