Ocean Spray Mollegabet

[southsoundjeff]

I've decided, after building over 40 bows, and lurking here for a couple years, it's about time I give something back.
So here's the beginning of an Ocean Spray (Holodiscus Discolor) Mollegabet that I started today.
Since Ocean Spray doesn't grow very large in diameter, I'm not sure whether to call it "a log", or "a sapling"..... Whatever....
I'm starting from a piece 52" long, 2-3/8" at the butt, and 2" at the small end.
Ocean Spray is notorious for checking and splitting and cracking right down to the pithy core in nothing flat..... So after I harvested it last year, I wrapped it up under a couple layers of cellophane  and slid it under the bed with the others.....
But today the bug hit me again, and I couldn't help myself any longer. I dug it out and unwrapped it, and broke out the yardstick and marker, and plugged in the bandsaw. STAND BACK! I'm makin' another one, baby!
I'm pretty much planning on backing it with rawhide, just because I have it laying around from the doe I took last year.  I think it's good magic to back a bow you use for hunting, with materials from the animals you have harvested. It's a "full-circle" relationship that bonds the spirit with the tangible.....
Pictures and more rambling to follow....

[bow101]

If you can find the bigger OS good for you.  2-3/8" at the butt that is pretty hefty.  I tried wraping some in
cellophane did not work for me.  My best trick is to cut it now, seal it with bark on, take it out during the summer and hang it in the garage or leave it in the Hot summer sun for about a week. 

[southsoundjeff]

Here are the raw materials.
I've laid a yardstick and an 18" rule down so you can get some perspective...

[Don Case]

I'll be watching. I've got a bunch of OS almost dry. Another month maybe. I sure hate waiting.

[southsoundjeff]

I hear you Don.....
As I was cutting it out, I realized how much moisture there still was in the wood.
This O.S. is sure a fickle wood......
What the heck- get it as close as possible- as QUICKLY as possible.
That way, at least I can minimize the mass, and hopefully prevent that heartbreaking splitting.
Here goes nothing....... But I'll leave those other ones I have for probably another year.....

First I cut a flat- almost to the core....

[southsoundjeff]

Then I laid out all the markings on the flattened edge (which will be the back).

[southsoundjeff]

Then cut out the thicknesses.....

[southsoundjeff]

Now I'll be setting it aside and checking on it periodically until I figure the moisture content has stabilized.
If It's not totally split to all creation, then I'll proceed in an orderly fashion....
Or a "not so orderly" fashion, as is my usual method.....
If it splits like crazy or snaps like a twig, I'll do what I often do- grab some more wood and make another bow.......
I don't take bow building all that seriously.
C'mon...... It's a stick and a string, right?
If the native peoples had to follow all the "rules" I've heard about, they would have starved before ever shooting their bows. Or given up from frustration and discouragement.
I try to keep it light and have fun with the process. It keeps me off the street.....
Maybe I'll spend the next couple weeks pounding some sinew out.

[Don Case]

Did you de-crown the back?

[southsoundjeff]

The first pictures, cutting it flat near the core.....
That's my idea of de-crowning.....
The rounded portion left over is what I am using for the belly.
Note the left-over bark on the handle area.

[bubby]

so a backward bowout of OS, interestinggg

[southsoundjeff]

I've always been told I'm a little bit odd......
Why would my bows be different?

[Bryce]

ive made quite a few OS bows, and ive noticed that its always a good idea to keep it simple.
but iam interested to see how turns out:)
you will loose alot of the width you have now bc of the high crown and the high density of OS.
OS is a though wood and will fret or collapse along horizontal pin knots close to the belly(<---just a heads up)

did you just cut this stave?

-Pinecone

[southsoundjeff]

did you just cut this stave?

-Pinecone

Was cut last year, but probably late enough in the spring that the sap was running.
Then again, it's one of the thicker diameter ocean spray chunks I've had, so probably should have left it longer.
Come to think of it, that was the first time I've wrapped in cellophane. Prior to this, I've always just smeared the entire thing in white glue. Maybe that had an effect also.
I've always had issues along the back, when I've tried selfbows. Haven't had trouble with the belly yet, but watch- now that I've said that....... I'll get bit for sure......

[UserNameTaken]

I hope than I'm wrong, but I think that you just ruined a really exceptional piece of ocean spray. If there's any moisture left in that stick at all, it's going to split right down the center of your bow.