Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: nsherve on November 12, 2014, 09:13:59 am
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I have a good bit of mulberry trees on my property that are pretty good size ( one is 10" to a foot in diameter). My q is, when is the best time to cut it down? spring early sumer makes it easier to de-bark, but should I leave the bark on, or take it off right away? I've read that it loses moister fast and will crack real bad (am I mistaken?), so is it better to take it down in the fall/winter?
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It's red mulberry...if that matters.
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Cut it anytime you can. You have to knife off the bark and sapwood either way.
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My thoughts
Cut it now but only one at a time so you can get it split , a ring chased, and sealed up before it starts splitting itself
Then cut the next one and repeat till they are all gone !
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I'll just cut one for now, there will be plenty of staves for me to try...I'm very new. Right now I'm working on hickory which I recently cut down.....
Is it necessary to chase rings on the mulberry? I've read otherwise? Also, I don't know how to do that... I guess I'll try it both ways. I need to finish building my barn before I even make a tillering tree, but even the hickory is still wet ( I've read it takes hickory a long time to dry out here in Alabama).
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Try and cut a sapling, ruff it out and strap it to a board to help keep it straight, remember to seal it then find a spot in the house where it's warm and dry and let it sit a month work it some and weigh it put it up a few weeks weighing it untill it stops dropping weight and make a bow
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My thoughts
Cut it now but only one at a time so you can get it split, etc...
Agree. If you cut it and store it in a cool place, you can keep splits, but you will have to chase a ring. If you chase a ring, go ahead and rough out the bow. If not, leave the bark on, reduce it somewhat, and dry it slowly. Bugs do like mulberry sapwood, though, so be careful.
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Thanks, y'all...