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Author Topic: sycamores?  (Read 4536 times)

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Offline jturkey

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sycamores?
« on: March 09, 2011, 11:28:19 am »
what are ya'lls opinion on sycamore as a bow would befoe i cut a tree down would like to get some people that have tried it or know if it would be a good bow wood. we have thousands of them out back just an idea.
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Offline Del the cat

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Re: sycamores?
« Reply #1 on: March 09, 2011, 11:32:49 am »
I think it's closely related to and similar to Ash.
Del
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Offline DarkSoul

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Re: sycamores?
« Reply #2 on: March 09, 2011, 11:51:32 am »
Just to avoid confusion - you are from the USA, right? So I assume you are talking about a species of Platanus? In the UK and Ireland, sycamore is the common name for Acer pseudoplatanus which is a species of maple.

I know Acer pseudoplatanus makes reasonable bows, but I'm not sure about Platanus...
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Offline Pat B

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Re: sycamores?
« Reply #3 on: March 09, 2011, 12:31:48 pm »
I'd say if you had a stave, try it but I wouldn't cut a tree just to give it a try.  I have heard of bows made from sycamore but nothing special.     Darksoul, this sycamore(P. occidentalis) like your London Planetree(P. x acerifolia).
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Offline jturkey

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Re: sycamores?
« Reply #4 on: March 10, 2011, 01:06:47 am »
thanks pat and i am from america did not realize they were different over there in the uk but it is good to know. and pat i have to cut a few about 6in in diameter anyways so i guess i will make a few stave and see what happens they are in the middle of a shooting lane we are setting up for next year i'll let you guys know what i find out.
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Offline Auggie

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Re: sycamores?
« Reply #5 on: March 10, 2011, 03:05:51 pm »
If it were me Id sell it for fire wood,use that $ to buy a good stave. But thats me. >:D
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Offline keef

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Re: sycamores?
« Reply #6 on: March 10, 2011, 04:05:31 pm »
 Ok.. I've never made a bow from Sycamore (acer psudoplatanus), but I have made atlatl's and sculptures from this  tree, and it's nice wood

Remember that it's a member of the Maple family of trees ( Acer)

Its very common in the UK although not native to our shores

I plan on making a bow from a stave I have very soon, I'm just going to keep it long and wide.

I imagine a pristine quarter sawn length board would make a fine core for a laminate ?

Good luck
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Offline ken75

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Re: sycamores?
« Reply #7 on: March 10, 2011, 04:13:33 pm »
jturkey heres two i made wood is dense and strong . no backings on these
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Offline keef

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Re: sycamores?
« Reply #8 on: March 10, 2011, 04:44:29 pm »
 Ken, Fine looking weopons. As I suspected, the sycamore will make a good bow... Thanks for the inspiration!

Keith
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Offline jturkey

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Re: sycamores?
« Reply #9 on: March 10, 2011, 05:16:21 pm »
hey ken was that which type of sycamore was that i have heard that ours will flake or let teh growth rings come apart upon being compressed. but i love thos bows specialty the molly that is wht i want to try for new one for me. but as i said just not sure of the wood but am willing to try it anyways.
 and Aiggie i use my firewood i don't sell it lol
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Offline crooketarrow

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Re: sycamores?
« Reply #10 on: March 10, 2011, 05:41:15 pm »
     It's not even a good fire wood to much moisture. I never maded a bow out of any and have always have been told it was'nt a good bow wood. Lots of mositure I'd think if you took the moisture away it would be brittle. Did once see one sinewed at a bow shoot. The guy said it had a lilltle string follow. Had fliped tips it looked good strung up.
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Offline NTD

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Re: sycamores?
« Reply #11 on: March 10, 2011, 06:54:58 pm »
Nice bows Ken!  Did you ever post those?
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Nate Danforth

Offline ken75

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Re: sycamores?
« Reply #12 on: March 11, 2011, 11:53:28 am »
Nate i think so ive posted round 50 of the 75 ive built
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Offline NTD

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Re: sycamores?
« Reply #13 on: March 11, 2011, 12:33:26 pm »
I know you've posted a bunch, just didn't remember those.

I just found the thread! ;D  Nice bows
« Last Edit: March 11, 2011, 12:37:46 pm by NTD »
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Nate Danforth

Offline thomas h

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Re: sycamores?
« Reply #14 on: March 11, 2011, 12:54:26 pm »
wish i had read this sooner  i just  burned about 500bdft of 5/4 syc :o
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