Author Topic: cedar bow??  (Read 6816 times)

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Offline bigpapa

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cedar bow??
« on: March 01, 2013, 11:47:41 am »
Howdy Yall. Got a question. What kinda weight could I expect to get out of a cedar self bow? Also, wanting to make a cedar kids bow too for my grandaughter. It'll have to be a easy one for her to learn with. Any ideas?
Our only limitations in life are the ones we put on ourselves!
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Offline autologus

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Re: cedar bow??
« Reply #1 on: March 01, 2013, 12:02:11 pm »
Eastern Red Cedar will make a hunting weight bow, Western cedar very light weight.  I would be afraid to shoot a Western cedar bow.

Grady
Proud Hillbilly from Arkansas.

Offline Pappy

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Re: cedar bow??
« Reply #2 on: March 01, 2013, 12:24:20 pm »
Wear a helmet and be sure you grand daughter does.  ;) :) :)
   Pappy
Clarksville,Tennessee
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Life is Good

Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: cedar bow??
« Reply #3 on: March 01, 2013, 12:31:37 pm »
Im with Pappy. Not much about ERC excites me except its gorgeous color. Back it with hickory or sinew and you MIGHT have a fighting chance.
Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.

Offline Cardboard_Duck

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Re: cedar bow??
« Reply #4 on: March 01, 2013, 12:55:34 pm »
In my limited experience I think hickory backed ERC makes a great bow. I have made three and working on my forth HBERC and no problems... Yet :)
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Offline bigpapa

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Re: cedar bow??
« Reply #5 on: March 01, 2013, 01:32:06 pm »
Hmmm.. well I've got gobs of hickory. What would be the best glue to laminate them together? And how light of a weight could I get out of one for her? She is just three, but gonna start her out right!
Our only limitations in life are the ones we put on ourselves!
Dream your dreams, and fly like the eagles!

Offline M-P

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Re: cedar bow??
« Reply #6 on: March 01, 2013, 01:45:29 pm »
Howdy,  As you can see, opinions vary widely on eastern red cedar's suitability for making bows.   I happen to believe that ERC and other junipers can make very good bows.    Junipers can be weak in tension, so a backing of some sort is a good idea.  A good clean knot-free stave can work well with no backing, but the back must be pristine.  I've made backed ERC bows to 65# and unbacked to 40#.
You will get many votes for Tightbond glues.   Tightbond 2 works well in gluing on a mood or bamboo backing.
Ron
"A man should make his own arrows."   Omaha proverb   

"There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."    Will Rogers

Offline bigpapa

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Re: cedar bow??
« Reply #7 on: March 01, 2013, 01:59:24 pm »
Thanks, guys. Can anyone post a few links for a cedar selfbow? I've been lookin and can't quite figure out how much of the sapwood (?) To take off.
Our only limitations in life are the ones we put on ourselves!
Dream your dreams, and fly like the eagles!

Offline ionicmuffin

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Re: cedar bow??
« Reply #8 on: March 01, 2013, 02:15:47 pm »
Amo innectis arcus- I love crafting bows (latin)

Offline vinemaplebows

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Re: cedar bow??
« Reply #9 on: March 01, 2013, 02:24:19 pm »
Pearl,

                 You should spend more time with Easrtern cedar it makes a fine bow!
Debating is an intellectual exchange of differing views...with no winners.

Offline Weylin

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Re: cedar bow??
« Reply #10 on: March 01, 2013, 02:26:56 pm »
If you have lots of hickory why don't you just make her a hickory self bow and rest easy that it wont detonate on her?

Offline bigpapa

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Re: cedar bow??
« Reply #11 on: March 01, 2013, 02:27:40 pm »
Thanks ionic. Actually just got done reading that one.  :D
Our only limitations in life are the ones we put on ourselves!
Dream your dreams, and fly like the eagles!

Offline bigpapa

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Re: cedar bow??
« Reply #12 on: March 01, 2013, 02:29:23 pm »
If you have lots of hickory why don't you just make her a hickory self bow and rest easy that it wont detonate on her?

Well, that's also my other option.  ;D. Might just do that, its just them cedar ones sho' be purty! Lol!
Our only limitations in life are the ones we put on ourselves!
Dream your dreams, and fly like the eagles!

Offline bcbull

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Re: cedar bow??
« Reply #13 on: March 01, 2013, 02:44:41 pm »
Big poppa use as much of thhe sap as u can iv made 110# war bows with it if u got the sap use it its qay stronger thhan the heartwood for the kids id use a 1/2 slat backed with 1/8 hickory made llits if lighhtr wt bows with that and go onne bettr use tb 3 not 2 brock

Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: cedar bow??
« Reply #14 on: March 01, 2013, 03:11:50 pm »
Pearl,

                 You should spend more time with Easrtern cedar it makes a fine bow!


I cant make a bow from any of the pine wood Brian. Ive tried enough man! My skills just dont match its requirements.


 
Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.