Elm backed with cherrybark

[330bull]

Andrew,

I just found a dead cherry tree while riding my road bike last week. I harvested enough 2" wide strips for probably 4-5 bows.  I have some questions for you:

1. How did you dry the strips?
2. How long did you let them dry?
3. Which side of the bark did you apply?  It looks like you applied it backwards.  What I mean is that you have the inside skin of the bark facing the outside.
4. What did you finish the bow/bark with?

Thanks!  Joe

[Pat B]

Joe, On the cherry bark bow I did the bark was sent to me dry but I wouldn't imagine it would take long, especially since the tree was already dead.  I put the bark down the way it was on the tree. There is lichens and other stuff growing on the outside that should be taken off. I think I used steel wool and got a nice copper color. Use any finish that you would normally use on bows.  By the way, It was suggested to me to use 2ton epoxy, which I used but I think that TBII or TBIII would work fine also.    Pat

[medicinewheel]

great bow andrew, really like the pulling sequence!
how about a cherrybark backing build-a-long??
frank

[AndrewS]

@330bull
Hey Joe (oh man I'm Jimi Hendrix fan )

For drying I put the bark flat between two boards.

I think you have to dry the bark one or two month. My bark had dried about 8-9 month, cause I haven't time to work with the bark so long.

At this bow I apply the inside of the bark to the wood. But I think you can make it also inside out (I made a quiver this way). I have cleaned the bark with a scraper and steel wool and then i glued the bark on the elm with a resorcinol glue, but another glue like Pat sayed will work fine (a buddy of mine glued the bark on with white carpenter's glue and a hot iron! - don't tell your wife that you need the iron for glueing a back on your bow )
Before glueing you have to cut the stripes to the exat dimensions of the back, cause the bark will break easy if you try to put it around the edges from back and side.

I finished this bow with  tung-oil, then shellac, after that tung-oil and at last I waxed her, but every finish you normally use will work.

Good luck and I can't wait to see your cherrybarkbackedvinemaplebow

Andreas

[venisonburger]

Great looking bow, the bark is such a deep rich color.
VB

[330bull]

Great information, thanks!  I'll do a build along when I apply the backing in a few months.  Joe

[jpitts]

beautiful bow....well done

[AndrewS]

Hey Joe

it is nice to help people in doing primitve skills especially in bowbuilding.


And thanks again for your compliments to the others.

[medicinewheel]

i really enjoy the information flow on this side!!!

cheers, frank