Carson, I admit I used "imperative" for emphasis because a more forceful tone seemed to be needed. Looks like an even more forceful tone is yet needed here. LOL.
I know there are exceptions like hickory (already said that several posts back) but I still do it because Dad told me if I am going to do something, do it right. No shortcuts.
PatM, not talking boards here. That's a whole other topic.
I've made bows from the following log staves...yew, osage, elm, hickory, black locust, hop hornbeam, red oak, white oak, Aus. pine, lemonwood, American hornbeam, chestnut, maple and some others I forgot. Somewhere in the order of 2-300. That's in addition to the board bows. 26 years of making bows from boards, full log staves and saplings. It's been fun.
Once I followed the lateral grain, which you can read in almost any book on bowyery, bow making got a little easier.
So the first thing y'all do is point out exceptions. It's not the exceptions that make a good bowyer.
It is good sound technique with good toolsmanship ...knowing when to put down an aggressive tool in favor of one less so.
Yes, you can violate this categorical imperative but sooner or later ......in this case, sooner...you'll wish you did not.
The first thing I do when making a bow of any wood is look at the lateral grain and mark a line down the center of the stave following it. I do this automatically whether the stave is split or sawn.
It is just good and proper bow making procedure. It's your foundation as a bowyer. It's the first row of blocks that you played with as a kid.
Lateral grain following is how we get those snakey bows that we all love to look at and oogle.
Best to everyone and I wish you continued success in your bow making. Above all have fun.
Gotta go work on my porch, which is much easier thanks to the carpentry/woodworking skills I learned from my dad.
Jawge
