Apple Sucker Staves - How to store, how to make (eventually)

[330bull]

Hello,

I just acquired three very nice apple sucker staves from an old apple tree.  They're ~1.75 yo 2.50" in diameter and rare at least 65" long. 

I cut the ends with a band saw and sealed with TBII.  I plan on storing in my garage until they are ready to become bows.

Questions:

1. I plan on NOT splitting in half (via bandsaw), due to fear of checking and twisting.  Does anyone agree or disagree?
2. I plan on making some nice bendy handle flatbows with a very similar profile to JD Duff's crabapple bow.  Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks!  Joe

Ps.  The coolest part is that Wes has at least 4-6 more suckers on his tree, and his neighbor probably has 12 or more ready that I could make bows out of.  I though about taking them all but...haste makes waste.

[sailordad]

    hi joe,

i have a limb from an apple tree that is about the same demensions.
i scraped all the bark and cambium layer off of he wood,sealed the ends.
i then analyzed the limb and decided which was to be the back and the belly.
then took my draw knife to the belly side and took off about 1/4 to 1/2" of wood.
lightly sealed the back and sides with wood glue and stuck it in the corner.
its been there for about 9 months now.i am hoping by next fall to make my wife
a new target bow from it.

and i would not try and split them with a band saw.you could end up wrecking them.
if you split them you might not have enough wood on either,especially the smaller one,to make a decent bow.
not to mention you might violate the grain severly.
jmho

                                                                      peace,
                                                                           tim

[El Destructo]

Scrape the Bark off while it is still easy to do....and either reduce it like Tim has mentioned...or just seal the whole limb with a Sealer like Glue or urethane...and let it dry slowly to avoid splitting

[Gordon]

Joe,

Split and debark the staves, rough out your bows and then let dry.