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Offline sleek

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problems with black cherry
« on: December 14, 2013, 04:20:02 am »
I made one black cherry bow with all heartwood and silk backing. It wanted to be toothpicks in its next life. So this stave I am making a sap wood backed bow. As I thin the sap I am finding small pockets of sap in the sapwood. Under the pockets ae small pin holes. Advice or similar experiences? Its 61" and I'm shooting for 38@28.
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Offline dbb

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Re: problems with black cherry
« Reply #1 on: December 14, 2013, 05:03:16 am »
Its not the same but the european black Cherry i have used had very brittle heartwood.
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Offline Dances with squirrels

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Re: problems with black cherry
« Reply #2 on: December 14, 2013, 07:26:43 am »
What it the moisture content of the stave?

Aside from the sap still in it, I don't think 61" is long enough for a cherry bow drawn to 28".
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: problems with black cherry
« Reply #3 on: December 14, 2013, 07:45:24 am »
Id add about a foot to that length.
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Offline Hrothgar

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Re: problems with black cherry
« Reply #4 on: December 14, 2013, 08:05:05 am »
Ditto what Pearlie said.
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Offline SLIMBOB

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Re: problems with black cherry
« Reply #5 on: December 14, 2013, 09:42:01 am »
Love Black Cherry, but it don't like me.  Never have gotten one to full draw before it exploded.  The sap pockets on the back killed one of them so yeah, they're an issue (have been for me anyway).  Way too short in my experience at 61 inches.  Low draw weight might help some.  Peculiar wood!
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Offline Badger

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Re: problems with black cherry
« Reply #6 on: December 14, 2013, 11:01:46 am »
 I  like cherry backed but not so much as a self bow. I bought a couple staves on e ebay a few years ago and I believe neither ever made it to full draw.  I use it backed frequently.
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Offline SLIMBOB

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Re: problems with black cherry
« Reply #7 on: December 14, 2013, 12:39:02 pm »
Even the one backed one I tried blew up.  Most violent explosion I've experienced!  Tipi stuff can speak to that as he was there. :) Hickory backed with Perry Reflex.  Far too short and the grain in the backing was not ideal (read really bad).  I'll get one done but I'm off it for a while.  Short drew everything for months after that.
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Offline twilightandmist

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Re: problems with black cherry
« Reply #8 on: December 14, 2013, 01:53:00 pm »
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=36420.0 it is possible, it just has to be done very carefully. leave it wide, and be careful. i have seen the sap pockets often as well, they dont seem to bother the bow at all provided the pinhole doesn't violate your back ring. when they blow up, they do it big. but as long as youre careful with the back and leave it generously wide, you should be fine.
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Offline Eric Krewson

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Re: problems with black cherry
« Reply #9 on: December 14, 2013, 02:49:23 pm »
The late Jimmy Taylor made and sold thousands of hickory backed cherry bows. His quality control method was to tiller the bow on a balloon sander at brace height only, pull the bow back to 31", if it didn't blow he shipped it. He had a six foot tall scrap pile of the bows that did blow.
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Offline Dances with squirrels

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Re: problems with black cherry
« Reply #10 on: December 14, 2013, 05:21:43 pm »
That's what I call making firewood the roundabout way :^)
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Offline sleek

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Re: problems with black cherry
« Reply #11 on: December 14, 2013, 05:39:24 pm »
Well looks like I will just set this aside for now then. I don't have a wood stretcher to make the stave any longer. Its 1 3/4 inches wide. Was going for parallel limbs half way up then a taper. Maybe I will just keep it around for a kids bow with low weight and draw. If yall think that is even safe?
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Offline Thesquirrelslinger

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Re: problems with black cherry
« Reply #12 on: December 15, 2013, 06:48:03 pm »
round belly. It will take a @)$*ton of set, but it won't blow.
I love sapwood backed cherry with a D-belly, it looks a little like Yew
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