Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Josh Shuck on November 06, 2012, 10:21:12 pm
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I listened closely to the stave and it said: "You want to do what? Please..."
I think this might actually be Rock Elm and not American. But every site i go to seems to give a conflicting account. The stave is pretty small in diameter so I was thinking about trying an ELB. Anyone have any experience with an elm ELB? I can probably also get away with a decrowned flatbow too. I should quit analyzing and keep splitting. :o Back to pounding I go!
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Ive never split elm but looks like your gonna have some run of if your not carefull!
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I've split american elm and I've never seen the split hang up right in front of the wedge like that. That's crazy!
Edit: It just occurred to me that the bark might be hiding the split? I can't tell.
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It's more of the angle of the camera than running out but is off center just a tad. Lol it pretty much stops right there at the wedge. I have to pound in two hatchets, pieces of wood and whatever I get my hands on to get the wedge back. I think I have had enough fun for one night!!
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Brutal. When I split mine I would just drive a wedge in from the side (not from the top like you are). That would open it up a foot or two past the wedge, and then I'd drive another wedge in just before the crack stopped. That would release the previous wedge and I just proceeded down the trunk like that. That must be super tight grain in that log!
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Ive got a 8lbs sledge, sawed off to 14", just for times like this...
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Don't de-crown elm!!! It is very very tension strong and does best with highly crowned backs.
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Your splitting and using your wedge wrong,that's why your having such a hard time.
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I have positive experiences with elm and elb's. But I have built elb's in "wytch elm" I'm not sure that's the same as american elm. But elm has a good proportion between tension and compression. I think it's very suitable for building elb's. Maybe its smart to make the cross-section a litte bit oval, and not circular. Yew is more comfortable with the circular cross-section.
:)
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Ditto as above, split the way cameroo described. My elm actually split quite nicely using that method. if it's straight, you can even use a circle saw to cut a straight kerf from end to end to keep the split in line.
Elm makes nice ELB's, Marc St. Louis has some on here I believe. I'd temper the belly for sure. I have one waiting right now to become an ELB :)
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Personally I use an impact wrench and a row of nice fat lag bolts. Drive a few of the lag bolts in then have a beer and listen to the fibres snap and pop. when it gives up a little add another bolt or two befor you know it you can start cutting the interlocking fibres with a saw. Ron
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Personally I use an impact wrench and a row of nice fat lag bolts. Drive a few of the lag bolts in then have a beer and listen to the fibres snap and pop. when it gives up a little add another bolt or two befor you know it you can start cutting the interlocking fibres with a saw. Ron
...That's an ABO impact wrench, right? ...made from knapped chert and sinew. :o
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Here is the easiest way I have found to deal with Elm...........Walk past it and find a different kind of tree to cut. ;D
I cut an elm tree several years ago. After the many hours it took me to split it, I decided it would be my last. I haven't touched it since.
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Use saplings and a band saw.... problem solved.
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I cut a nice elm tree a few years ago and had heard someone suggest splitting when frozen.
so I put it aside until a few freezing days and nights had passed - split pretty easily. there were some
"stringy" section that I had to cut through with a hatchet but otherwise it went well.
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I have worked with winged elm a good bit, and have found that it is easier for me to saw a kerf with my skil saw and leave it to dry for a while. That saw line will open up a bit and give you a place to start your wedge. It is still no fun.
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Thanks all for the input! I really liked Ron's idea with lag bolts but the hardware store closed by the time I got home. So I took the other part of his advice had the beer anyways and went to work. I tried the wedge in the side method and it seemed to go a bit easier but by no means a picnic. Staves have a bit of prop but I think I can work with them.
I'll give them some time to season and then I'm anxious to try an ELB with them. More to come!
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Staves...