Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Dictionary on January 21, 2012, 01:35:31 pm
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I'm not sure if i should bother using this. Never used crapemyrtle before but i saw this straight one growing up the street from me and cut it.
There are two....knots? Intrusions? The knots i've seen aren't usually like these. They are located In the wood at what would be midlimb for both limbs.
I'd like to model it after a cherokee longbow. This one is about 65 inches long
(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll235/Jayrock205_photos/crapemyrtle003.jpg)
(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll235/Jayrock205_photos/crapemyrtle002.jpg)
(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll235/Jayrock205_photos/crapemyrtle001.jpg)
(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll235/Jayrock205_photos/crapemyrtle004.jpg)
Should i toss it? Or keep these knots to the side, back, or chop them off on the belly? :-\
Thanks
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(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Crape.jpg)
I #1 where the knot is? I haven't built many bow but from what I've seen others do this stuff seems pretty tough? Maybe you can incorporate it into the handle?
I'd put it in the handle for the thickness and where I could reinforce it. I don't think I'd want that one bending. I would just be a shorter bow?
The real experts will chime in soon :)
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Those are where the knots are. I'm aiming for a circular tiller so i don't know if i could accomodate a knot in the handle. also if i shortened it, it wouldn't move the knots toward the handle anyways without making one limb 20 inches in length or less. If that makes sense.
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I would think the knots would handle the compression of a belly better than the tension of a back. Might also concider rawhide over the back.
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I don't plan on backing the bow. But i guess i'll just keep them to the belly and knock them down a bit but leave a bit more wood around them so it won't be a weak spot i guess... :-\
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I have a bunch of Crepe Myrtle seasoning out back even now.
And I'm on the Hunt for more, as this is Crepe Myrtle Trimming time around Houston.
Also have a couple of dry staves in bow making process as well.
There are a couple of folks on this site that love it for bow wood.
Their CM bows are beautiful.
The piece you've shown looks Good to me.
-gus
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If you are going for a Cherokee style flat bow (bendy handle D shaped bow) and you put those knots on the belly side, they'll be gone once you carve to the center of the stave. You'll probably be past the center of the stave on at least 2/3 of each limb by the time you get it to floor tiller. Even if you had a stiff handle they still shouldn't be an issue if you carve them off with the belly wood.
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If you are going for a Cherokee style flat bow (bendy handle D shaped bow) and you put those knots on the belly side, they'll be gone once you carve to the center of the stave. You'll probably be past the center of the stave on at least 2/3 of each limb by the time you get it to floor tiller. Even if you had a stiff handle they still shouldn't be an issue if you carve them off with the belly wood.
Ok i was thinking that i could cut past them. Thanks for clarifying this. Hopefully i'll be posting pics of a new bow within a couple of months after i attempt to quick dry this wood. We'll see ::)
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you would be best served to make that the belly side , ive built some cm bows with up to 6 knots in the back without issue but that looks a lil different than most. im building one now that has a long area like that about midlimb . these pics are of it with the bark removed and showing the placement . i let you know if anything happens to it should finish tomorrow if the weather is ok.