Sycamore as bow wood????

[El Destructo]

Tell Ya what.....I'll trade you the Cottonwoof Pollen for the Sycamore!!!! If they weren't my Shade Trees in the back yard.....I'd cut them all down.....my Yard is white and about 4 inches deep every spring from the Cotton.....what a mess....and the Hay Fever is terrible.....ain't it!!

[Papa Matt]

When you say "quartersawn", exactly what do you mean?

[Hillbilly]

Papa, it's the way that the board is sawn compared to the orientation of the grain in the log. Quartersawing often brings out nice grain patterns in wood.

[Papa Matt]

I see...so that's why Destructo said his were backed, because there was no single ring followed for the back?

[Hillbilly]

There usually isn't on a board bow. Safe unbacked bows can be made from boards as long as there isn't any major grain runout-a board sawed so that the rings are running through the board vertically is usually safer thatn a plain-sawn one.

[El Destructo]

I see...so that's why Destructo said his were backed, because there was no single ring followed for the back?

Matt....on some of my Bows that I have used Sycamore Staves....I have decrowned them to make 2 1/2" wide Hupa Paddle Bows and either Rawhided or Sinew Backed them....or I buy Quartersawn Air Dried Lumber from Bell Forest Products in Ishpeming Michigan

Hillbilly is correct too....Quartersawn brings out the best looking grain in some woods.... and Board Bows are not all that bad....I like them from Air Dried or Green Lumber.....I am not too hot on Kiln Dried....but have made some nice Bows from it too..