Author Topic: Honeysuckle- pics added  (Read 2730 times)

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Offline Thesquirrelslinger

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Honeysuckle- pics added
« on: June 12, 2013, 05:50:16 pm »
I have a short 1 1/2 inch diam stave of honeysuckle, a LONG 2 inch one, and 2 highly reflexed 1 1/4 ones of middle length(50" or so).
One has nearly 7" of reflex. How on earth can I make a good bow from it? The others all have 3-6" of reflex. The 2 inch has a knot.
« Last Edit: June 12, 2013, 08:24:12 pm by Thesquirrelslinger »
"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results"

Offline ionicmuffin

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Re: Honeysuckle
« Reply #1 on: June 12, 2013, 06:00:24 pm »
add deflex to the handle, aim for light weight on them, in my honest opinion if you have a high crown stave thats only 1.25 inches wide you will basically end up with a kids bow, same with the first one you mentioned, the second, the 2 incher might make a good bow in a higher weight range.
Amo innectis arcus- I love crafting bows (latin)

Offline Thesquirrelslinger

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Re: Honeysuckle
« Reply #2 on: June 12, 2013, 06:04:10 pm »
Thanks for the advice. In my experiance(my first bow was a 24" honeysuckle... looking back I wonder how it didn't break) honeysuckle is quite tension strong. I can decrown them if needed... maybe...
So make one of those deflex-recurves?
thanks for the advice.
"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results"

Offline ionicmuffin

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Re: Honeysuckle
« Reply #3 on: June 12, 2013, 06:10:00 pm »
with high reflex on high crown staves you will have a TON of stress on the back of the bow, this could create an issue--->explosion my solution is to reduce the initial strain of the bow, it also, as far as i know, will reduce the weight of the bow. Try it out on your worst stave of the stuff, see what it likes and what it doesnt like. Those 1.25 inchers, see if you can get a 45-50 lb bow with heat treating or something, if not then it will need to be lower on the wider ones. Much of bowmaking is testing what works and what doesnt. Some of the learning can be accelerated by watching others, but most will be on your own.
Amo innectis arcus- I love crafting bows (latin)

Offline Joec123able

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Re: Honeysuckle
« Reply #4 on: June 12, 2013, 06:15:17 pm »
I wouldn't even invest time into small diameter pieces like that at best you will get a 30 pound bow
I like osage

Offline Thesquirrelslinger

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Re: Honeysuckle
« Reply #5 on: June 12, 2013, 06:56:51 pm »
I wouldn't even invest time into small diameter pieces like that at best you will get a 30 pound bow
This is an experiment... I am only aiming for such stuff. I want to get a fast low poundage little bow out of this...
So pretty much decrown it? 
Heat treating might just work. 
"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results"

Offline Thesquirrelslinger

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Re: Honeysuckle
« Reply #6 on: June 12, 2013, 08:23:24 pm »
Here are the staves-

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results"

Offline Zion

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Re: Honeysuckle- pics added
« Reply #7 on: June 12, 2013, 10:27:50 pm »
I'm sure you could get some decent weight out of that size of wood, does the honeysuckle seem dense?
The secret of life is learning to make your own luck.

Offline hedgeapple

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Re: Honeysuckle- pics added
« Reply #8 on: June 12, 2013, 11:24:39 pm »
I'll be watching this one closely.  I have tons of honeysuckle bushes on my farm.
Dave   Richmond, KY
26" draw

Offline Joec123able

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Re: Honeysuckle
« Reply #9 on: June 12, 2013, 11:27:26 pm »
Here are the staves-



The two on the right I think would make some nice arrow shafts
I like osage

Offline Thesquirrelslinger

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Re: Honeysuckle- pics added
« Reply #10 on: June 13, 2013, 12:15:55 pm »
Split? Honeysuckle doesn't like to split straight.
"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results"