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Author Topic: Elm advice needed  (Read 1366 times)

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Offline Redbow

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Elm advice needed
« on: December 04, 2016, 01:47:04 pm »
Hello guys, a newbie bowyer here speaking. This is my first post here, and I'm quite green when it comes to making bows (made a few, all od which broke). I'd like to hear your opinions on this, to increase my chances od finally making a durable bow.
Recently I got a large elm board as a gift from a friend. Since elm is not a common lumber where I live, I was happy with what I got. The grain was not straight, and it had a large knot on on side, so I decided to saw it into 12 mm (just under 1/2'') boards. I got three usable ones and two scraps. The thing is, all of the boards have both sapwood and heartwood on, and no matter how I turn it, there is always both of them on the future bow (assuming I want a full size bow, not a 45'' kids' one). The heartwood even pulls the sapwood into reflex! When I was sawing it, one end was still unsawed, and the other one was already curving away.
Has anyone of you ever built a bow from both heart/sap elm? What wood is good for backing elm, since the grain is bloody awful (hickory is not na option, since I'm on the other side of the ocean, and I doubt I could get bamboo that wide)?
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: Elm advice needed
« Reply #1 on: December 05, 2016, 07:18:37 am »
Its ALL about grain when you start using boards. Even a good hickory or maple backer wont often save a core with horrible grain.
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Offline stuckinthemud

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Re: Elm advice needed
« Reply #2 on: December 05, 2016, 10:47:04 am »
Never built a board bow but as I understand it the board needs to be 1/4 sawn or rift sawn - the grain needs to be perpendicular to the surface.  Anything else makes a nice table.  If the wood is moving that much it sounds like there is a lot of stress still in the timber that re-sawing is relieving.  If the grain is correctly oriented you could wait until the wood stabilises then heat-treat it straight.  Wherabouts are you based?
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Offline bubby

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Re: Elm advice needed
« Reply #3 on: December 05, 2016, 11:19:15 am »
like pearlie said grain, grain, grain you can use riftsawn, quartersawn or flatsawn all will work. Have you got any pics of the boards?
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Offline bubby

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Re: Elm advice needed
« Reply #4 on: December 05, 2016, 11:22:04 am »
traditionalarchery101

Jawges site has a ton of great info on picking boards and everything else you need to know
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failure is an option, everyone fails, it's how you handle it that matters.
The few the proud the 27🏹

Offline Redbow

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Re: Elm advice needed
« Reply #5 on: December 05, 2016, 12:32:12 pm »
Thanks for the replies,guys. I'm from Europe (not a native English speaker, so excuse me for any mistakes). The board is plain sawn. Here you have the sap/heart transition. As more as I look at it the more it seems awful for a bow. Ignore the pink tablecloth.
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Offline ksnow

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Re: Elm advice needed
« Reply #6 on: December 05, 2016, 12:38:21 pm »
WAY too much runoff in those pieces for a bow of any type.  The grain should look like straight lines the entire length of the board.
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: Elm advice needed
« Reply #7 on: December 05, 2016, 12:53:25 pm »
That would be gorgeous under glass. But not for a self or wood backed bow.
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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 Redbow

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Re: Elm advice needed
« Reply #8 on: December 05, 2016, 01:01:20 pm »
So a new table it is, then. Thanks, guys  :)
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Offline bjrogg

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Re: Elm advice needed
« Reply #9 on: December 05, 2016, 01:04:38 pm »
Really pretty grain but for bow you want straight and boring. Welcome to PA Redbow
Bjrogg
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