Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Jmilbrandt on October 22, 2009, 07:13:42 pm

Title: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: Jmilbrandt on October 22, 2009, 07:13:42 pm
This is a bow I have had for a while, it's made from a local bush called sonoran scrub oak. This wood has some very cool sap and heartwood and is harder then osage my tests show over .90 sg. I made this bow just to see how well this wood would make a bow. It is 66" ttt 1" 1/4 wide at the fades with a heavily rounded belly and pulls 60# at 28". It's not all that well made I just kind of threw it together as an experiment the tiller is off and the handle is pretty long, I was just in a hurry to make a bow from it. Figured I might as well post it because it is a wood I've never really heard of anyone using before.

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Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: Jmilbrandt on October 22, 2009, 07:15:28 pm
Some more pics. ;D

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Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: Jmilbrandt on October 22, 2009, 07:19:18 pm
Oh I forgot it was reflexed about an inch and has taken about an inch and a quarter string follow.
Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: Justin Snyder on October 22, 2009, 07:20:50 pm
It looks good. I love the grain on scrub oak.  

I just cut a couple more logs over the weekend. I also cut some oneseed juniper while I was at it.  ;)
Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: Jmilbrandt on October 22, 2009, 07:29:33 pm
I knew you made at least one bow from the stuff. Have you had a whole lot of luck with it? I need to get out there and cut some more. :)
Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: Keenan on October 22, 2009, 07:31:31 pm
Looks great . Tiller looks right on
Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: Dano on October 22, 2009, 07:36:38 pm
Great looking bow, are you finding the scrub oak along the river?
Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: Pat B on October 22, 2009, 07:58:53 pm
Nice bow.  The grain looks like a white oak. Do the leaves have rounded or pointed lobes?
Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: mullet on October 22, 2009, 09:00:55 pm
 looks like it would make an interesting bow. The grain looks like our scrub oak. Does it have little, curled up, boat shaped leaves?
Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on October 22, 2009, 09:41:59 pm
Congratulations! Tiller is excellent. Jawge
Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: gmc on October 22, 2009, 11:13:11 pm
Very nice bow and sweet tiller.
Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: Justin Snyder on October 22, 2009, 11:52:20 pm
Great looking bow, are you finding the scrub oak along the river?
Dano, it is the brushy looking oak that lives on the mountains.
Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: sweeney3 on October 23, 2009, 12:24:20 am
Holy cow!  That is neat looking wood.  I like it.  Nice looking bow. 
Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: Jmilbrandt on October 23, 2009, 03:02:41 am
Like Justin said it's a big bush thing I've found it in the hills out in the desert biggest one I've seen was maybe ten feet tall. It's got sharp spiny leaves, I'll just post some pics.
Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: Jmilbrandt on October 23, 2009, 03:07:44 am
Ok here are some pictures of sonoran scrub oak and the kind of country I've found it in.

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Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: Jmilbrandt on October 23, 2009, 03:15:49 am
Also this stuff heat bends like crazy! I had to take a kink out of one tips so I heated up the last eight inches, and as it heated up it just started drooping from only the weight of the tip! I had to bend it quite a few times after that since this stuff doesn't really grow straight and it is by far the easiest wood I have ever bent.
Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: medicinewheel on October 23, 2009, 03:46:48 am
Nice bow!
Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: Pappy on October 23, 2009, 07:33:35 am
Nice bow ,tiller looks good.Congrats on that one. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: VenomBOWslinger on October 23, 2009, 09:03:31 am
WOW U LIVE IN A BEAUTIFUL AREA!!! I NEVER SAW OAK WITH THAT TYPE OF LEAVE LOOKS COOL AND THOSE TREES DO LOOK SCRUBY IS IT HARD TO GET GOOD STAVES AS IT LOOKS VERY TWISTED IN SPOTS..ALTHOUGH U SAY U KINDA MADE UR BOW FAST AND IT HAS ALOT OF CHARACTER IT STILL LOOKS GOOD AND IM SURE FROM FULL DRAW PIC IT SHOOTS GOOD AS WELL GOOD JOB AND HOPEFULLY UL HAVE THE TIME AND MAKE SOME MORE..KEEP IT UP AND KEEP UP THOSE PICS...LOVE THE SOUTH WEST!!!
CHEERS!!!
Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: coyote pup on October 23, 2009, 10:02:50 am
Harder than Hedge???   :o    I want some!
Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: Dano on October 23, 2009, 10:15:17 am
Thanks guys, I am going to make a scouting trip for Mesquite up the Virgin River, I was told there are some big ones along there, thought I might find some oak as well, looks like it grows in the higher elevations.
Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: OldBow on October 23, 2009, 11:59:58 am
What a life you have ...from Mission Mtns of the Flathead to the Sonoran Desert. Nice bow and primitive and bookmarked, too.
Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: Jmilbrandt on October 23, 2009, 10:29:41 pm
Yeah I'm lucky to have been able to live in such beautiful country. Thanks to everyone for all the comments. If anyone wants any I might be willing to trade some, only problem is it's hard to find straight stuff and I don't have a whole lot of free time. So let me know, it might take some time though.
Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: Jmilbrandt on October 23, 2009, 10:31:11 pm
Also does anyone have any ideas on how to keep this stuff from checking? I tried everything I know and it's just about impossible. It started checking before I was able to load it into the truck!
Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: Dano on October 23, 2009, 11:06:26 pm
Depends on the time of year, but it's always good to seal right there as you cut it. I'm finding TBIII is a pretty good sealer, two coats and wood ain't going to check.
Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: Jmilbrandt on October 23, 2009, 11:25:15 pm
I sealed the ends with polyurethene and left the bark on and it checked on the ends and under the bark. I didn't seal it until I got home though but i di go straight there after I cut it. I doubt it was cut more then 30 mins until it was sealed. I'll try bringing some Titebond with me next time though. The only other wood I have ever cut are juniper and mountain maple and I never even seal those.
Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: Justin Snyder on October 24, 2009, 12:45:37 am
I take a bottle of glue white with me, it doesn't take long with the heat and lack of moisture we have here. I don't use TB for sealing because I can get other white glues for $8 a gallon.  ;) Split it as quick as you can also.
Title: Re: Sonoran oak bow
Post by: Jmilbrandt on October 24, 2009, 12:58:59 am
I'll have to try that, I did split it right away but it still seemed to check everywhere. ??? Maybe if I put it in the basement to dry?