sapling bow ?

[joesharp79]

i got my eye on a nice slippery elm sapling was thinking about making my next bow out of it i was wondering when making a sapling bow what is usually the best design and do u use the heart for the back or just peel the bark and go at it or can i just cut it down to size and back it with cloth or something of that sort i tried one a few weeks ago and tried to chase a ring that was a disaster rings r awfully small in a sapling lol it broke in floor tillering stage

                   ALL INFO IS GREATLY APRECEATED

                              JOE

[Pat B]

Joe, with sapling bows you want to just peel the bark and make the bow.     Check out Gordon's build-along with a hazel sapling. Lots of good info and techniques.

[Dauntless]

With a tension strong wood like elm, the crowned back will actually improve performance by concentrating the tension load on the top fibres.  All my bows are made from saplings or boards with the balance weighing heavily for the saplings.

[Hillbilly]

Slippery elm is good wood. Like everybody said, just peel the bark, no backing needed. I made one good bow from a 2" slippery elm sapling. A long D-bow, Eastern Woodlands style, would be a good design to try first with your sapling.