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Author Topic: Static recurve from sapling?  (Read 5773 times)

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Offline campx

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Static recurve from sapling?
« on: July 17, 2014, 10:18:39 am »
I've got the itch to try a static recurve.  Problem is, all my wood around here is sapling sized Douglas Maple, up to 3" diameter, or elm, which aint much bigger.  My question is, how does having a high crown on the back affect the building and/or function of a static?  Perusing through the endlessly fascinating posts in here, I read that the "myth of decrowning has been laid to rest" so to speak; but wouldnt that be a good option for dealing with a small diameter sapling static?  I decrowned a DM stave before, building a 75" long flat bow......a bit of work, but the end result is cool, and functional.  Thoughts?
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: Static recurve from sapling?
« Reply #1 on: July 17, 2014, 10:42:08 am »
I like high crown saplings with wood strong in tension. Id stick with elm.
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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.

blackhawk

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Re: Static recurve from sapling?
« Reply #2 on: July 17, 2014, 11:13:54 am »
Quote from: PEARL DRUMS on July 17, 2014, 10:42:08 am
I like high crown saplings with wood strong in tension. Id stick with elm.

Ditto...use the elm...I prefer elm in smaller diameters/higher crown personally
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Offline dwardo

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Re: Static recurve from sapling?
« Reply #3 on: July 17, 2014, 11:24:45 am »
Pretty much every static I have made has been from saplings. Favourite being wych elm.
Just finishing one now infact.

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Offline campx

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Re: Static recurve from sapling?
« Reply #4 on: July 17, 2014, 11:45:33 am »
Wow, fast replies, thanks!   Good to know.  Gonna dig out a chunk of elm from the pile, curing since last summer.
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Static recurve from sapling?
« Reply #5 on: July 17, 2014, 12:19:10 pm »
Use the elm and make the belly flat.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline ssgtchad

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Re: Static recurve from sapling?
« Reply #6 on: July 17, 2014, 01:39:24 pm »
If your up to a challenge,  try a hollow limb design like Simon does.  He did a build along a while back.
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Offline rossfactor

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Re: Static recurve from sapling?
« Reply #7 on: July 17, 2014, 01:55:23 pm »
Saplings are my favorite staves. 1.5-3" diameter plum water sprouts, Ocean spray or vine maple saplings are hard to beat. Woods where the sapwood is poor in tension may not make great sapling bows.

Gabe
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Humboldt County CA.

Offline campx

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Re: Static recurve from sapling?
« Reply #8 on: July 18, 2014, 03:05:19 am »
Grabbed a stave outta the dry wood pile tonite after work. 
Douglas maple, pretty damn straight for what it is, 76" long, only 2" wide at the widest spot.  I had bandsawed it down the middle last fall, and it is definitely dry.  Can't believe it didn't corkscrew like crazy!
 Anyways, here's my thinking.......72 incher.  Bendy handle, possibly deflexed.  12 inch static recurves.
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Offline dwardo

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Re: Static recurve from sapling?
« Reply #9 on: July 18, 2014, 03:16:06 am »
I like my statics between 60 and 65.
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: Static recurve from sapling?
« Reply #10 on: July 18, 2014, 08:17:04 am »
Shorten the bow to 64-66" ttt and make short, sharp statics the size of a quart can. No sense in stiffening up 10-12" of tip. That's all dead weight.
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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 campx

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Re: Static recurve from sapling?
« Reply #11 on: July 18, 2014, 10:04:01 am »
Roger that.  I overloked that fact, ie, dead weight, on too long of levers.  I just built 3 different cauls for bending tips; I'll use the smallest radius one.....
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: Static recurve from sapling?
« Reply #12 on: July 18, 2014, 12:23:38 pm »
It all opinion of course. Some like long hooks, I just cant see why! That would be like leaving 10-12" stiff on a 64-66" straight bow. Who does that? I think "looks" take precedence over function with some folks, and that's cool to.....I guess...:)
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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 bubby

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Re: Static recurve from sapling?
« Reply #13 on: July 18, 2014, 12:58:06 pm »
IMO function should always trump looks
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Offline vinemaplebows

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Re: Static recurve from sapling?
« Reply #14 on: July 19, 2014, 03:14:02 am »
Quote from: bubby on July 18, 2014, 12:58:06 pm
IMO function should always trump looks

Oh, come now Bubby, we are talking bows, not wives. ;D ;D
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Debating is an intellectual exchange of differing views...with no winners.
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