Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: fishfinder401 on September 27, 2011, 08:20:56 pm

Title: what about willow? (will it go boom)( i now have my craving satisfied)
Post by: fishfinder401 on September 27, 2011, 08:20:56 pm
i  really like things when they explode(unless it really good wood), and i have heard that willow is a terrible bow wood, so i was wondering, would a willow warbow explode,( im really hoping the answer is yes) and would heavy  heat treating help it go boom ;D ;D ;D ;D
thanks
noel
Title: Re: what about willow?
Post by: Ifrit617 on September 27, 2011, 08:28:02 pm
I am guessing it wood... Try to get  video.... ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: what about willow?
Post by: fishfinder401 on September 27, 2011, 08:29:40 pm
. Try to get  video.... ;D ;D ;D
oh, i defiantly will......
wouldn't it be funny if it actually turned out to be a good bow and stay in one piece ;D
thanks
noel
Title: Re: what about willow?
Post by: Ifrit617 on September 27, 2011, 08:30:03 pm
It would certainly be a suprise..
Title: Re: what about willow?
Post by: bubby on September 27, 2011, 09:07:50 pm
my guess is if anyone can get it to blow, its you >:D, Bub
Title: Re: what about willow?
Post by: fishfinder401 on September 27, 2011, 09:31:13 pm
my guess is if anyone can get it to blow, its you >:D, Bub
i will try my hardest ;)( by the way, the only bow iv'e ever blown was a sho ;Drt bittersweet vine that had been dead for a few years and was constantly dry fired from a draw of 32 inches)
im thinking 60 inches long, 32+ draw and a good pair of goggles .... actually, make that a 35 draw and if it doesn't blow, it dry firing time >:D >:D >:D >:D
noel
Title: Re: what about willow? (will it go boom)
Post by: George Tsoukalas on September 27, 2011, 09:33:41 pm
Not a good bow wood. My site may help you. Jawge
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/
Title: Re: what about willow? (will it go boom)
Post by: fishfinder401 on September 27, 2011, 09:36:17 pm
Not a good bow wood.
thats the point, i want to see how much i can get a bow to self destruct >:D, and its common around m fishing area, how would you suggest making it more brittle?
thanks
noel
Title: Re: what about willow? (will it go boom)
Post by: bubby on September 27, 2011, 09:39:56 pm
fish, i'm just a smart ass, not ? your skill's, Bub
Title: Re: what about willow? (will it go boom)
Post by: fishfinder401 on September 27, 2011, 09:43:07 pm
fish, i'm just a smart ass, not ? your skill's, Bub
i know you wern't, but to tell you the truth, im surprised i haven't blown more ;D
noel
Title: Re: what about willow? (will it go boom)
Post by: johnston on September 27, 2011, 10:28:38 pm
noel you are too talented and smart to be trying to blow up a bow on purpose.

But if you do it be safe about it >:D

Lane
Title: Re: what about willow? (will it go boom)
Post by: fishfinder401 on September 27, 2011, 10:31:00 pm
 thanks for the complement lane, and don't worry, i will be wearing allot of protection if i do it
can you tell  have a slight destructive side >:D
noel
ps: im also interested in what this wood can actually take
Title: Re: what about willow? (will it go boom)
Post by: youngbowyer on September 27, 2011, 10:41:44 pm
I made my very first bow out of willow when i was 9. The growth rings were extremely violated because i had chopped away wood on either side. It was long, probably around 70 inches. After 2 weeks it exploded.
Title: Re: what about willow? (will it go boom)
Post by: fishfinder401 on September 27, 2011, 10:48:07 pm
what kind of explosion ;D, did it shatter, or just break
thanks
noel
PS: im sorry about your first bow exploding
Title: Re: what about willow? (will it go boom)
Post by: youngbowyer on September 27, 2011, 11:15:24 pm
It just snapped, nothing spectacular. But the wood was wet so dry wood would probably explode. Then I made a 45 inch willow bow and I can still pull it to about 18 inches and the back is extremely violated.
Title: Re: what about willow? (will it go boom)( i now have my craving satisfied)
Post by: fishfinder401 on October 10, 2011, 12:46:08 am
well, i didn't have to use willow to get this to happen, i was working on a oak board bow for my cousin, i was in the middle of tillering and was holind it and drew it to about 10 inches and BANG there goes half the bottom limb into my stomach(im glad it wasn't a warbow :o)
so i know have had my first bow explosion and have had that craving fulfilled without injuries
noel
Title: Re: what about willow? (will it go boom)( i now have my craving satisfied)
Post by: Justin Snyder on October 10, 2011, 03:01:27 am
Willow doesn't usually explode, it just takes huge amounts of set.
Title: Re: what about willow? (will it go boom)( i now have my craving satisfied)
Post by: sadiejane on October 10, 2011, 12:48:30 pm
wow, i couldnt imagine making a bow outta willow.
one of my brothers had taken one out on his property. we were mostly using it for firewood.
it had been cut about 10 months.
decided i'd make a spoon for my sis in law outta piece. it had such a lovely shape and looked to make a great ladle.
well, i did get the thing done but dude, what a pita! like carving wet toilet paper.
will never try carving willow again.
Title: Re: what about willow? (will it go boom)( i now have my craving satisfied)
Post by: Justin Snyder on October 10, 2011, 03:23:38 pm
wow, i couldnt imagine making a bow outta willow.

Keep it that way, it sucks for bow wood. I made a 4" wide pyramid and still got 8" of set.
Title: Re: what about willow? (will it go boom)( i now have my craving satisfied)
Post by: Stingray45 on October 10, 2011, 05:31:26 pm
I've heard willow is bad for bow wood. I've had a couple blow up on me, luckily I haven't had the anything come back to hit me. But those explosions plus the tales from others caused me to build my tillering rig with pully system. Had a couple break on there, only one really blew up on it. But I was standing 12 ft away so all was good. I make sure I pull it on that rig well over a 100 times once I get it to draw length, not to mention all the pulling to get it tillered there. Once I have pulled it a hundred or so times, then I'll take the bow off and put some arrows through it, wearing my cap with small brim and safety glasses for the first 50-100 arrows or so. It can obviously blow up after that, but I figure those are the most likely times for it to blow up.
Title: Re: what about willow? (will it go boom)( i now have my craving satisfied)
Post by: JW_Halverson on October 10, 2011, 10:55:04 pm
My buddy, Mikey, built a now famous willow bow.  He had no experience and only a few pointers from me.  The tiller is pretty rough and there is nothing lovable about this bow.  It has prop twist and both limbs have lateral curves making it look like a giant slalom curve.  But it shoots.  It's lovingly called "The Mexican Propellor".   It pulls 50# at 26" and stacks like blazes.  If I remember right the bow shoots about 125 fps but he can hit with it when he practices. 

Limbs are almost 2" wide at the fadeouts and no taper until the last 4 inches.  I'll try to get some pics of it for you. 

The tree was a peachleaf willow (Salix amygdaloides) cut by a beaver.  Dropped and cut to length for him and left behind where he would find it, thanks beaver. 

Proves the old maxim that sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.   
Title: Re: what about willow? (will it go boom)( i now have my craving satisfied)
Post by: druid on October 11, 2011, 02:48:17 am
I made good flatbow of willow. Massive but not much physical weight. A little over 50#but it was ugly 2-hours-work. It is still somewhere in my basement I think.
Title: Re: what about willow? (will it go boom)( i now have my craving satisfied)
Post by: crooketarrow on October 11, 2011, 11:34:40 am
  I make 2 bows with I was younger. They did'nt explode but both did'nt take on major a set.