Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: coaster500 on March 17, 2013, 01:25:09 am

Title: Red Elm Question
Post by: coaster500 on March 17, 2013, 01:25:09 am

I have some Red Elm that only has about three months drying time.

Question ....  is it possible to work the stave down to bow dimensions to help with the drying time or should I just let it dry for another year or so?

Title: Re: Red Elm Question
Post by: Joec123able on March 17, 2013, 01:38:34 am

Yea you could do that but you don't wanna take it down to close or you will risk having the wood either warp or check on you and have even more problems Down the road

Title: Re: Red Elm Question
Post by: sleek on March 17, 2013, 02:45:47 am

Get it floor bending the stop for another 3 or so months.

Title: Re: Red Elm Question
Post by: crooketarrow on March 17, 2013, 10:42:18 am

   You can take it dow to floor tiller but seal the whole bow or if it's to wet it will have drying checks. It's best to let it season a year on its own 2 better. Like all woods if sealed,sprayed (where need be) and stored flat or standing straight up out of the whether. Even white woods will last. I have osage as well as elm,hickory over 20 years old. As well as perrsimmen ,follower dog wood a dozzen years old.

Title: Re: Red Elm Question
Post by: Dvshunter on March 17, 2013, 12:08:49 pm

Kip the snakey bow I made from elm was cut the first or so of December. I roughed it out a little a week and kept it in the hotbox around 70-80 degrees with a fan blowing on it. It kicked and bucked all over while it dried and that's how I got the reflex and also the snake in it. I sealed the back only and just checked on it everyday for checks. It dried out quickly, but it will warp. You might be able to strap it down to something to keep it from moving to much but I would say its going to move. It's not like you can't heat it back to straight when its done though. Get cracking if you ask me. This stuff grows on tress after all.

Title: Re: Red Elm Question
Post by: coaster500 on March 17, 2013, 02:54:53 pm

Dave that bow is what made me want to try Elm.... Killer bow!!! ...  I've got quite a bit of it so I might experiment with one.

Thanks guys for the advise............

Title: Re: Red Elm Question
Post by: Slackbunny on March 17, 2013, 03:38:11 pm

If its already been drying for three months then I would say you are probably safe to get it done to near net shape, but I've never worked with Red Elm, so I don't know how bad it likes to warp.

I am impatient and would probably take it down, but leaving it be is definitely the safer route.

Title: Re: Red Elm Question
Post by: coaster500 on March 29, 2013, 01:10:04 am

Roughed out the green stave today and clamped on one of the rafters in my shop. The back and ends are sealed so we will see if it cracks without sealing the whole thing. The rafter should keep it from warping and twisting....  I don't have a moisture meter so I'm not sure how long this will take???

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/TradeBow1027_zpse8e3443c.jpg)