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Author Topic: Wood for a bow  (Read 2682 times)

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Offline Kennedy

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  • Denham Springs, Louisiana
Wood for a bow
« on: January 19, 2014, 07:42:45 pm »
Where do y'all get the wood I'm in the southeastern part of Louisiana and we have hickory oak and pecan here for sure. But do most of y'all cut or order your wood?
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Offline PrimitiveTim

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Re: Wood for a bow
« Reply #1 on: January 19, 2014, 11:41:45 pm »
Cut it down!
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Florida to Kwajalein to Turkey and back in Florida again.  Good to be home but man was that an adventure!

Offline 4dog

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Re: Wood for a bow
« Reply #2 on: January 20, 2014, 01:50:05 am »
cut  cut   cut   ;D
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Offline TRACY

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Re: Wood for a bow
« Reply #3 on: January 20, 2014, 07:24:19 am »
Maybe I should head on down and show you how to cut and split >:D give me a good excuse to duck hunt ;D I would start with the hickory and wait until spring when the bark will pull off instead of scraping it off .

Tracy
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It is what it is - make the most of it!    PN500956

Offline Kennedy

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  • Denham Springs, Louisiana
Re: Wood for a bow
« Reply #4 on: January 20, 2014, 08:02:07 am »
Ha Tracy the ducks are about the only thing getting laid down here. It's been slow. 
What diameter should I go for?
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: Wood for a bow
« Reply #5 on: January 20, 2014, 10:53:21 am »
6-8" is nice, especially tension strong woods like pecan/hickory. A high crowned back is good.
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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 PrimitiveTim

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Re: Wood for a bow
« Reply #6 on: January 20, 2014, 11:10:09 am »
Quote from: TRACY on January 20, 2014, 07:24:19 am
wait until spring when the bark will pull off
Oh ya, that's super important.  Saves you a lot of grief.  Any physical signs from the tree that it is ready to cut?  Like budding or should you wait until it's full of leaves?
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Florida to Kwajalein to Turkey and back in Florida again.  Good to be home but man was that an adventure!

Offline Kennedy

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  • Denham Springs, Louisiana
Re: Wood for a bow
« Reply #7 on: January 20, 2014, 12:59:11 pm »
now I have heard many different opinions about drying the wood out. From cutting it and immediately drying it, to cutting it splitting it and roughing a bow out. What do yall do as far as drying it out?
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Offline TRACY

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Re: Wood for a bow
« Reply #8 on: January 20, 2014, 05:52:54 pm »
You can cut any time of year but for the whitewoods it is easier when the tree starts moving water from roots to top. I've worked hickory after splitting into to staves and gradually reduce it to bow dimensions as it dries but prefer to let it dry first now. Be sure to seal the ends and ;/back if you remove the bark while waiting for it to dry. Guessing in a month or two the sap will be up and the bark will pull off in LA. If you can't wait, find some items to trade for seasoned staves here.

Tracy
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It is what it is - make the most of it!    PN500956

Offline Gus

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Re: Wood for a bow
« Reply #9 on: January 20, 2014, 06:41:17 pm »
Welcome Aboard Kennedy,

If it ain't Osage, Black Locust or Yew, get it IN out of the elements.
And living in Louisiana, I'm in Houston, I'm sure you have the same Bug Woes I have...
Get the Bark off as soon as you get your staves cut.
Then Seal the Back and Ends of each stave.
Store em in a dry location with good air flow.

You could Hurry a stave or two by putting them in a car with the windows up,
A Hot Box or even in your Attic.
Weigh the stave before you put it in your Hot Spot, then every few days to a week thereafter.
When the stave stops dropping weight it's ready to work.
If you rough it out to Just Over bow dimensions it will go even faster...
If you do rough it out be sure to Seal it again.

Elm and Crepe Myrle will make a bow as well...

Good Luck,

-gus
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"I taught him archery everyday, and when he got good at it he throw an arrow at me."

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Offline Kennedy

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  • Denham Springs, Louisiana
Re: Wood for a bow
« Reply #10 on: January 20, 2014, 07:18:48 pm »
I appreciate the info. I'm finally getting everything together to start making them. I've been wanting to for a long time.
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Offline mullet

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Re: Wood for a bow
« Reply #11 on: January 20, 2014, 08:59:46 pm »
I saw a lot of White Mulberry when I was working in La. Osage's cousin.
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Lakeland, Florida
 If you have to pull the trigger, is it really archery?

Offline Kennedy

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  • Denham Springs, Louisiana
Re: Wood for a bow
« Reply #12 on: January 20, 2014, 09:22:51 pm »
What do they look like?
I'm sure I don't have to mention I'm new at this
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