Author Topic: Wych Elm experiment  (Read 3002 times)

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Offline Holten101

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Wych Elm experiment
« on: July 03, 2011, 03:55:25 pm »
Stained Elm ”semi-pyramid”

This one started out as a discarded heavy propellar wych elm stave, so I decided to do some experiments on it.

I corrected the twist by clamping it hard during curing…that corrected it, but it still shows during tiller. I have never done that before so that was a first.
Another first was staining it. I normally dont like staining wood..I prefer the natural beauty. I also decided to try a high gloss poly finish (I normally use linseed oil).

I also experimented with the handle wrap…first, but not last time I will use this design

So this ”bastard” ended up at 58#@28” and 63” ntn, and its fast. The tiller was problematic due to the twist. It looks like there is a hinge 3” below the handle…but when I flip it around its undicernable…well, time will tell;-).

Unstrung


Brace:


Handle:




Draw:



Cheers

Offline toomanyknots

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Re: Wych Elm experiment
« Reply #1 on: July 03, 2011, 05:36:26 pm »
"It looks like there is a hinge 3” below the handle…but when I flip it around its undicernable"

You are not alone in this! I've had a bunch of bows like this because of twist, seems like almost every stave bow has this going on anymore, looks like a horrible hinge on one side and is perfectly tillered on the other side! :) I just flip it over and try not to look at the other side while tillering, lol. One way to feel better is take a video drawing it and usually you can see that it is drawing even and just appears to look hinging.   
"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 Timo

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Re: Wych Elm experiment
« Reply #2 on: July 03, 2011, 05:41:55 pm »
Tiller looks pretty good to me!

Offline bubby

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Re: Wych Elm experiment
« Reply #3 on: July 03, 2011, 05:44:55 pm »
I'm with Timo, nice bow, Bub
failure is an option, everyone fails, it's how you handle it that matters.
The few the proud the 27🏹

Offline Del the cat

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    • Derek Hutchison Native Wood Self Bows
Re: Wych Elm experiment
« Reply #4 on: July 03, 2011, 06:17:25 pm »
Nice work, it's good to hear some of the problems. I've had a few twisting trouble too on longbows, which have required plenty of heat treating and patience.
Del
Health warning, these posts may contain traces of nut.

Offline jeffhalfrack

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Re: Wych Elm experiment
« Reply #5 on: July 03, 2011, 06:43:38 pm »
      Hey  what  did you  stain it  with???????????   and  I'll   gladly   test  it  for  you  for  a  couple  years   :laugh:   nice job!!!!!   JEFFW

Offline ErictheViking

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Re: Wych Elm experiment
« Reply #6 on: July 03, 2011, 08:29:21 pm »
I like the whole bow and tiller looks good to me. really like the color of stain too. very nice :)
"He that but looketh on a plate of ham and eggs to lust after it hath already committed breakfast with it in his heart"  C.S. Lewis

Offline peshikthe

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Re: Wych Elm experiment
« Reply #7 on: July 04, 2011, 12:54:20 am »
my molle osage bow has twist and it has no adverse affects on the shootability, definately adds charachter.
im a man, i can change, if i have to, i guess.

Offline Holten101

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Re: Wych Elm experiment
« Reply #8 on: July 04, 2011, 06:53:27 am »
@Jeff....cant really say, it was alcohol dilluted cherry stain, that is all I know. And according to a furniture carpenter friend of mine, who visited me this weekend, I have alot to learn about staining;-). It looks ok to me though.

Thanks for all the nice words:-)
« Last Edit: July 04, 2011, 10:49:40 am by Holten101 »

Offline dwardo

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Re: Wych Elm experiment
« Reply #9 on: July 04, 2011, 08:34:38 am »
Very indeed, the stain looks great.
I have 4 wych elm staves roughed out and drying as we speak and i too am trying to correct some nasty prop by strapping it down, nice too see it works.

Offline Pappy

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Re: Wych Elm experiment
« Reply #10 on: July 04, 2011, 10:34:16 am »
Beautiful,looks very well built to me. Nice Job. :)
   Pappy
Clarksville,Tennessee
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