Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: PEARL DRUMS on May 18, 2011, 05:37:46 pm

Title: Oak stave bows?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on May 18, 2011, 05:37:46 pm
Why dont I ever see oak stave bows posted? Lots of oak boards come along.
Title: Re: Oak stave bows?
Post by: sweeney3 on May 18, 2011, 06:11:47 pm
Dunno.  I have a white oak/sinew Owl bow.  Oak staves can make great bows, so I'm not sure.  Personally, I find staves much easier to work with than boards.  I have yet to manage a board bow of any variety.
Title: Re: Oak stave bows?
Post by: Blacktail on May 18, 2011, 07:07:30 pm
that is a good question..i used to live in southern oregon and there is a butt load of oregon white oak down there...i know of some monster trees that i would love to cut..john
Title: Re: Oak stave bows?
Post by: George Tsoukalas on May 18, 2011, 07:16:24 pm
Red oak staves and bows are beautiful but you are right. We don't show them enough. They area great alternative.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/Jawge/Red%20Oak%20from%20Booge/IMG_3246.jpg)
Board bows occupy a special place in my heart for a variety of reasons.
"Board Bows"
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/boards.html
"http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/boardbowbuildalong.html"
Jawge

Title: Re: Oak stave bows?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on May 18, 2011, 09:38:07 pm
I guess I will cut down the 8" burr oak in the back yard and change that trend. It just never occurred to me until today that nobody posts oak stave bows.
Title: Re: Oak stave bows?
Post by: osage outlaw on May 18, 2011, 09:57:31 pm
I prefer to leave my oak trees as deer attractions.   ;D
Title: Re: Oak stave bows?
Post by: Pat B on May 18, 2011, 10:03:46 pm
My red and white oaks become firewood. They are our main heat source.  I have split out a few red and white oak staves but I already have more seasoned bow staves than I could ever build bows from.  ::)  I guess that's not actually a bad thing.  :D
Title: Re: Oak stave bows?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on May 19, 2011, 02:53:59 pm
Lets see them when their done Scott. I would love to see the back especially.
Title: Re: Oak stave bows?
Post by: Blacktail on May 19, 2011, 05:07:11 pm
dang scott i love the bottom pic...what is the specs on that bow..john
Title: Re: Oak stave bows?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on May 19, 2011, 05:09:54 pm
This is going to cause an oak stave landslide Scott! Nice pics
Title: Re: Oak stave bows?
Post by: Lee Slikkers on May 19, 2011, 05:32:14 pm
This is going to cause an oak stave landslide Scott! Nice pics

You got that right PD, I can hear my chainsaw revving up in the garage just calling to me  ;D

Scott, gorgeous bow...I'd love to see more pics of it if you have them.  The character dips on the back are so excellent.
Title: Re: Oak stave bows?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on May 19, 2011, 05:35:15 pm
If oak boards can make a durable bow imagine what an intact back can do? I can smell the 2-stroke now Lee!
Title: Re: Oak stave bows?
Post by: LEGIONNAIRE on May 19, 2011, 06:27:23 pm
Thats about to change in a couple of months, I got some white oak staves i will prep :) planning to make some sinew backed bows.
Title: Re: Oak stave bows?
Post by: HatchA on May 19, 2011, 06:58:44 pm
I'd love to make a bow from Irish oak but I'm not sure if it's "protected" in some way - maybe just felled by contract or something.  I'll have to make some calls to some sawmills to see if they get any oak logs in on the trucks I see travelling the roads.  If they do, I'll see about getting a length to split myself.
Title: Re: Oak stave bows?
Post by: bubby on May 19, 2011, 08:01:22 pm
I remember that bow Scott, really liked it, I love white oak for bows, damn near impossible to break, Bub
Title: Re: Oak stave bows?
Post by: johnston on May 19, 2011, 08:28:46 pm
I'm cutting staves along and along and have about a dozen oak cut and that many left to do. So far I have only cut 2"-3" trees cause they are easy to tote back to the house. Anybody got experience on this ...should I be cutting bigger stuff? Same question for the other wood. I got pecan, hickory, wild cherry, persimmon, cherry laurel, holly and plum so far. Oh and a couple hackberry. Only thing I have had to split was a good-sized crepe myrtle that was given to me. But oak, got four kinds, is where I am starting cause it was closest to the house ;D.

Lane
Title: Re: Oak stave bows?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on May 19, 2011, 09:04:17 pm
Smaller trees make more round backs. That can be okay and bad. Depends on the wood.
Title: Re: Oak stave bows?
Post by: Lee Slikkers on May 19, 2011, 10:28:25 pm
Dang Scott, that 44" Oak shortie is sweet!  What a pic on the tiller tree...Wow.