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Author Topic: Good Bow - Bad Bow?  (Read 3019 times)

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Offline Drewster

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Good Bow - Bad Bow?
« on: September 23, 2016, 12:58:43 pm »
This little hickory is growing near my house and I've looked at it for several years wondering if it will make a good bow.  It's about 5" diameter at the base.  I think the bigger tree fell across this hickory about ten years ago and the hickory has been growing in this position ever since.

Has anyone made a bow from a sapling like this?  Any advice?  Would appreciate any help.

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Drew - Boone, NC

Offline SLIMBOB

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Re: Good Bow - Bad Bow?
« Reply #1 on: September 23, 2016, 01:20:41 pm »
Cant speak for Hickory specifically, but generally with any wood I have worked....I love me some natural backset, but I have found them harder to keep together, the more backset the more likely they have been to break during the build.  Still...love me some natural backset.  I would prefer it on the tension side.
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Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: Good Bow - Bad Bow?
« Reply #2 on: September 23, 2016, 01:29:02 pm »
I've made many sapling bows but they were straight growing trees. Jawge
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Offline Lee Lobbestael

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Re: Good Bow - Bad Bow?
« Reply #3 on: September 23, 2016, 01:32:20 pm »
Yup I think that should work fine! Make sure you get it good and dry. Hickory holds onto moisture
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Offline bradsmith2010

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Re: Good Bow - Bad Bow?
« Reply #4 on: September 23, 2016, 01:42:41 pm »
maybe just pull a bit of the reflex out by clamping it down to cure,,,,
I do like the natural reflex,,
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Offline willie

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Re: Good Bow - Bad Bow?
« Reply #5 on: September 23, 2016, 03:11:32 pm »
good question. could you get two staves from that tree?    Maybe make a deflex-reflex each stave.

bend the handle into deflex on the shady side stave, and bend the tips into reflex on the sunny side stave.
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Offline sleek

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Re: Good Bow - Bad Bow?
« Reply #6 on: September 23, 2016, 03:37:51 pm »
Quote from: willie on September 23, 2016, 03:11:32 pm
good question. could you get two staves from that tree?    Maybe make a deflex-reflex each stave.

Thats what I would do. And make em wide and short with a deep narrow handle shaped to fit the hand perfectly.

bend the handle into deflex on the shady side stave, and bend the tips into reflex on the sunny side stave.
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Offline PatM

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Re: Good Bow - Bad Bow?
« Reply #7 on: September 23, 2016, 04:36:20 pm »
If you had cut it just a couple of years after it got bent it would have had a naturally applied  Perry reflex backing.  ;)
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Good Bow - Bad Bow?
« Reply #8 on: September 23, 2016, 05:22:30 pm »
Drew, I'd cut the tree and find the optimum stave(s) in it's length. Too much reflex adds a lot of stress to a stave just getting it to brace. When I add reflex to a stave I use a 2x4 block(3 1/2") and raise the tips to that. It usually comes out of the form with 2" to 3" and a flat or slightly reflexed stave when shot in.
 The heavily bent area could be made into billets and reflex reduced at glue up.
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Offline ---GUTSHOT--->

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Re: Good Bow - Bad Bow?
« Reply #9 on: September 23, 2016, 08:27:09 pm »
I cut a 6" Osage Tay grew at a angle its core was right next to the bark on the lower side. The top Sid was a lot of sap wood and when I split it , it started twisting. Ended up fire wood. But the hickory could be ok
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