Replies

1. 
   cherryjohn | Nov 25, 2004 04:42am | #1

   Maybe to bend the wood the process would be ok.  then again considering the tools they had to work with, wet would would be easier to work.

2. 
   81treehouse | Nov 25, 2004 07:15am | #2

   Indians and others sunk hollowed out logs (canoes) under water to keep them from cracking and splitting and therefore leaking.

1. 
   Patto | Nov 25, 2004 08:39am | #3

   It is also an accepted technique to tighten wooden wheels on horse-drawn vehicles. The Australian inland cliamte is very dry, and many I have talked to describe backing the vehicle into the dam for half an hour before a trip to reduce movement and wear.

1. 
   81treehouse | Nov 26, 2004 08:40am | #4

   True everywhere metal rimmed wooden wheels were used.

3. 
   bigfootnampa | Nov 26, 2004 09:29am | #5

   I know that some basket makers (both modern and primitive) will soak their logs to loosen the bonds between the growth ring layers and then they beat them until the layers separate.  That is the most efficient way to get the very thin withe stock needed for basketmaking.  The pieces are then slit to the proper widths and sometimes shaved a bit to even the thicknesses.  It is important to do this process at the right season but I can't remember just which.  This is a very labor intensive process but it also produces industrial quantities of basket withes.

4. 
   notDusty | Nov 26, 2004 07:45pm | #6

                Hi yikes ,

       I'm no expert on the subject but , I have heard that here in So. Oregon the native Americans would submerge Yew wood limbs and small logs for bow making , perhaps this is what you are thinking about .

                                         dusty