Cascara staves

[MotherGoose]

Hey all finally harvested some bow staves in hopes to build my first bow. Found some cascara that looks to be decent I hope. Question is how long do these need to season before I can get to work? I’ll try and post some pics. 

[Pat B]

The first thing you need to do is seal the backs and ends. I've never used cascara but I'd select oner stave and reduce it to floor tiller stage and start checking the weight as it dries.

[MotherGoose]

Ok right on thanks for the advice...

[Ricardovanleeuwen]

Roughly translated we call the family of those Trees dirty Trees and the one that's growing here have different names, one of Them is Arrow Wood. I guess its good Wood for bows

[MotherGoose]

I’m sure it’s not the best bow wood but I figured it’s straight and for a first bow it’s plenty good 

[DC]

There's a few guys on here that make Cascara bows. Do a search on Google for "Primitive Archer Cascara".

[Badger]

  I have made several cascaraa bows, all of them just straight stiff handled long bows. Decent wood slightly brittle if I remember right.

[vinemaplebows]

Burnish the back well will help. I personally like the wood.....compare it to red cedar in workability (super easy to work) high crowns will tend to be more prone to blow, but it can be done. The flatter the better (larger trees) Really good wood for lamination, simple backing hickory, oak, ash, or maple, keep backing thin for best results.

Brian