Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Springbuck on November 16, 2014, 11:46:33 am
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Usually I'm way past a question like this, but we just cut down a bigger old ERC that grew in the shade leaning out from a house. I got some fantastic, clean, pretty straight, knotless compression wood billets from the underside, 1-1/2 " x 3"+ x48" and I'm excited to try them with a couple very good QS white oak backings I have. I intend to try to split/bandsaw each of those once more.
I never have any problem drying wood in Utah, unless I just do it too fast, but this wood feels so dry and light already. I have done some ERC and juniper bowss, but the ERC came to me dry, and the juniper always got put away for months. Somebody recommend a drying time to me! Even in winter indoors or in the garage, I can have white woods good to go in a couple weeks if really reduced, and black locust in a month.
Help me not jump the gun.
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Rats - I was hoping someone gave you an answer by now, because I will be curious about this when I get around to cutting one of the big cedars at my parents' farm. Have you tried weighing the staves until they stop losing weight?
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At that size and humidity under 50%, Id wait 2-3 months max.
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ERC is a juniper. Junipers virginiana
You'll get better bow wood if you give it plenty of time to season. In Utah I'd imagine you could dry ERC in a few months.
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I'm never organizd enough to follow through with weighing and stuff. :-[ In Utah, I generally just don't have trouble getting anything dry.
Every other time I have used ERC or juniper it was left alone a long time, just by default, but I was excited to try this bow.
So, thanks all. I'll leave it until late winter
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My ERC was good to go in about 6 months indoors in KY....If you say BL is good to go in month, then I'm with the rest 2-3 months should be plenty... :)
DBar