Author Topic: leaving the pith in a bow??  (Read 2115 times)

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youngbowyer

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leaving the pith in a bow??
« on: February 14, 2011, 08:05:50 pm »
Hi,

Most of the yew branches i harvested have the pith all the way to the side. i want to make a couple of warbows but if i do i will probably have to leave the pith in the bow. Is this a problem?

Thanks.

Offline toomanyknots

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Re: leaving the pith in a bow??
« Reply #1 on: February 14, 2011, 09:16:14 pm »
Never been a problem with me. I just fill it will beeswax and then buff it up real good. First rub it real hard with a glass bottle (as well as the whole bow) as I stuff the wax in there, it makes it an even surface, then just buff it to a shine with cheese cloth afterwards.
"The way of heaven is like the bending of a bow-
 the upper part is pressed down,
 the lower part is raised up,
 the part that has too much is reduced,
 the part that has too little is increased."

- Tao Te Ching, 77, A new translation by Victor H. Mair

Offline JW_Halverson

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Re: leaving the pith in a bow??
« Reply #2 on: February 15, 2011, 12:55:44 am »
I once tillered the pith out of a bow and it ended up too light.
Guns have triggers. Bicycles have wheels. Trees and bows have wooden limbs.

Offline DEllis

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Re: leaving the pith in a bow??
« Reply #3 on: February 15, 2011, 02:30:58 am »
I've made a bunch of sapling bows with the pith in them. I just scrape the soft foamy stuff out and seal it up well. Never been any trouble.
Darcy :)
Darcy Ellis
Fort Fraser BC Canada eh!

Offline Del the cat

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    • Derek Hutchison Native Wood Self Bows
Re: leaving the pith in a bow??
« Reply #4 on: February 15, 2011, 05:10:41 am »
For a warbow, if the pith is still showing up the limb, then probably you need a bigger diameter branch.
But it's ok and looks good on a primitive bow.
Del
Health warning, these posts may contain traces of nut.

Offline Bevan R.

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Re: leaving the pith in a bow??
« Reply #5 on: February 15, 2011, 12:22:40 pm »
I once tillered the pith out of a bow and it ended up too light.

I can't beleive you man!! I tiller the 'pith' out of everything. ;D

Bevan
Bowmakers are a little bent, but knappers are just plain flaky.