help

[Niltsiar]

this is going to be my first self bow and i need help figuring out what kinda wood it is can any one help

[Bevan R.]

Got any pics of the leaves?

[Niltsiar]

no the guy i got it from had cut it down months ago

[Bevan R.]

Do you know if this was a branch or sapling? Any heart wood showing on the end? Does it feel real light or pretty dense?

[Niltsiar]

this is the end and it is very dense and this is a branch

[Bevan R.]

Sorry, Not some thing we have around here like that. Nice big rings in it. How long ago was it cut?

[Niltsiar]

january i think

[Niltsiar]

ok i have takin the bark and sapwood what should i do now ( i know it is not dryed out yet but i wanted to cut it to almost the finished shape so that it will give me somthing to do and speed up the dryin

[Bevan R.]

It most likely still has a pretty high moisture content. You might want to seal those ends and back with some shellac to prevent/reduce any checking.

[Niltsiar]

what can i use to do that i have almost no money and only some supplys here.

[Bevan R.]

You want some thing that will slow the moisture evap from the wood. A can on old paint. Glue on the ends. wax. some thing like that. You need to slow the drying of the outside of the wood cause it will crack (most likely) if it drys to fast. roughing out the bow will help but I would still give a like coat of glue on the back of the bow.

[Niltsiar]

ok sounds good thanks

[Josh B]

It looks like choke-cherry to me. SInce its your first attempt, decrown and back. Make the belly flat. Looks like you might have a twist issue, but backing it should take care of that.  Josh

[Niltsiar]

ok how do i do that

[Josh B]

If you can hang on for a few days, I'll answer that with as much detail as I can.  I have a choke cherry stave similar to that ready to work when and if I get the time.  If I do get the time, I'll try to do a build along for ya.  Josh