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Author Topic: The "fruit" of my labor  (Read 4767 times)

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Offline Susquehannock

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The "fruit" of my labor
« on: March 14, 2009, 02:48:32 pm »
I posted earlier in the week that the apple orchard behind my home is in the process of being bulldozed. I spoke with the farmer and he told me to cut as much as I wanted as he was going to burn it. Well, here are some pics from my harvest this morning. It is tough to find straight, clean apple wood of desired length. I probably walked the bulldozed orchard for a half hour inspecting the trees before I started cutting. A few pieces were slightly short, but I figured if I couldn't get a full-length bow out of them I could splice them. I think this is really pretty wood.

It was a good workout! I moved the logs with my wheelbarrow one by one about 500 yards distance to my house.

Jason

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Offline sulphur

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Re: The "fruit" of my labor
« Reply #1 on: March 14, 2009, 02:52:43 pm »
do you use heartwood or sapwood for an apple bow???  that does look like a lot of work.  I love osage, but i would like to try as many woods as i can get my hands on.
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Offline Colt45

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Re: The "fruit" of my labor
« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2009, 02:53:10 pm »
Looks great! Can't wait to see the fruits of the labor still to come!!   :)
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Offline Susquehannock

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Re: The "fruit" of my labor
« Reply #3 on: March 14, 2009, 03:54:14 pm »
I've never made an apple bow, but I don't think it matters if you use heart or sapwood. It's a white wood, so I plan to make it wide and flat as any white wood. I would like to have as much heart wood in the bow as possible since it's such a nice color.

I have been making osage bows for a while, so I'm excited to start working on a different wood and different set of challenges.
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Offline knap_123

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Re: The "fruit" of my labor
« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2009, 04:48:25 pm »
very nice!!  you can also save the shavings and pieces to use on the grill and smoker.  great for flavoring pork and fish ;D
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Offline Pat B

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Re: The "fruit" of my labor
« Reply #5 on: March 14, 2009, 05:06:53 pm »
Looks like a nice haul. I would go ahead and split them at least in half, seal the ends good and store them is a protected place. I have never made a bow with apple but others have, successfully. I had a nice straight log a friend gave me but when I went to split it it was spiraled badly from one end to the other. It was a wild apple!
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Susquehannock

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Re: The "fruit" of my labor
« Reply #6 on: March 14, 2009, 06:18:25 pm »
Thanks Pat,

I have already put 2 coats of shellac on the ends and will try to split and recoat them soon. My aching body wasn't up to splitting today! I store all of my wood in my unfinished basement, so I'll slow cure them. I did cut a little 3" branch that I think I'll reduce and try to quick dry. Should be fun.
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Bowbound

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Re: The "fruit" of my labor
« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2009, 06:44:25 pm »
The looks like nice wood to me. Can't wait to see the bows because i bet they will be beautiful. :) :)
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Offline Hillbilly

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Re: The "fruit" of my labor
« Reply #8 on: March 14, 2009, 06:55:47 pm »
Nice haul. I've never made an apple bow, but I've done some woodworking with apple, it's a really nice looking wood. I cut a straight piece of crabapple once, but it turned out like Pat's-when I split it it looked like a corkscrew.
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Offline DanaM

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Re: The "fruit" of my labor
« Reply #9 on: March 14, 2009, 07:57:50 pm »
Jealous as all heck ;) Nice haul eh :)
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Offline Timo

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Re: The "fruit" of my labor
« Reply #10 on: March 14, 2009, 07:59:16 pm »
Dang! That's alot of apple wood! Looks like some good ones in the lot?  Curious as to why they were removing them?
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Offline Susquehannock

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Re: The "fruit" of my labor
« Reply #11 on: March 14, 2009, 08:33:34 pm »
It was an old orchard, and the farmer hadn't worked it in 3+ years. He told me he was tearing the trees out to plant corn. . . I'm guessing he'll eventually be planting houses :(
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Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: The "fruit" of my labor
« Reply #12 on: March 14, 2009, 08:43:52 pm »
Nice! Those staves must be the apple of your eye. :) Jawge
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Re: The "fruit" of my labor
« Reply #13 on: March 14, 2009, 10:15:51 pm »
Susquehannock, Those are some fine looking logs. If you ever want to trade a stave for a glue-up Ipe and bamboo blank keep me in mind.. I've only had small branches of apple to use for bows and they did well. I'd love to try a "real" stave sometime.

Rich-not many apple trees around here..
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Offline Susquehannock

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Re: The "fruit" of my labor
« Reply #14 on: March 15, 2009, 08:12:04 am »
Rich, I may take you up on that offer. I'll keep you in mind once I get these split and seasoned.

Jason
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