Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: jayman448 on April 15, 2015, 03:26:15 am

Title: How small is too small?
Post by: jayman448 on April 15, 2015, 03:26:15 am

ive found a dead straight ash sapling. just beautiful. it would be magnificent in 8 years or so but i dont want to wait XD. so..... what is the minimum diameter ash sapling youd take for a bow? for something so small i think id hope for around 35# @ 27"

Title: Re: How small is too small?
Post by: mikekeswick on April 15, 2015, 03:27:53 am

1 1/2 inches for a narrow bendy handle bow.

Title: Re: How small is too small?
Post by: Pat B on April 15, 2015, 08:30:12 am

I agree with the diameter but I'd never cut a dead standing ash tree for a bow stave. Whitewoods deteriorate quickly after they die.

Title: Re: How small is too small?
Post by: Slackbunny on April 15, 2015, 08:42:57 am

I've made kids bows from HHB branches that were no wider than 3/4". Most of them pulled between 10-20lbs @ 20". That was HHB which has a bit more kick than ash, but they were also all quite short, the longest being around 50" long I think. They were all bend through the handle bows.

Pat, I think he meant that it was dead straight, as in very very straight, not dead and straight.

Title: Re: How small is too small?
Post by: George Tsoukalas on April 15, 2015, 09:24:55 am

Saplings, which by definition have high crowns, must be left longer to counteract the crown. For a 27" draw leave it a good 68" nock to nock.  A narrow region right down the middle of the back takes most of the tension.
Jawge

Title: Re: How small is too small?
Post by: Pat B on April 15, 2015, 09:41:28 am

I guess there wasn't a comma after "dead".  ;D

Title: Re: How small is too small?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on April 15, 2015, 10:28:14 am

I didn't know we had a live white ash in the Americas. I haven't seen one in my travels for several years. Good find.

Title: Re: How small is too small?
Post by: jayman448 on April 15, 2015, 11:04:31 am

Quote from: Pat B on April 15, 2015, 08:30:12 am

I agree with the diameter but I'd never cut a dead standing ash tree for a bow stave. Whitewoods deteriorate quickly after they die.

perhaps i should have said arrow strait. it is very much alive

Title: Re: How small is too small?
Post by: jayman448 on April 15, 2015, 11:07:10 am

Quote from: PEARL DRUMS on April 15, 2015, 10:28:14 am

I didn't know we had a live white ash in the Americas. I haven't seen one in my travels for several years. Good find.

within the past year i have found only two small groves (pockets of maybe 15 trees)

Title: Re: How small is too small?
Post by: wizardgoat on April 15, 2015, 11:49:27 am

You talking mountain  ash?

Title: Re: How small is too small?
Post by: jayman448 on April 20, 2015, 02:32:35 am

i think so.... XD

Title: Re: How small is too small?
Post by: mikekeswick on April 20, 2015, 03:10:10 am

Mountain ash is a different species. Mountain ash = Rowan - Sorbus aucuparia
White Ash - Fraxinus Americana

Title: Re: How small is too small?
Post by: DC on April 20, 2015, 12:50:23 pm

Mountain Ash has bunches of white flowers that will be coming out soon(here). They really stink. They turn into bunches of red berries. Robins love them.

Title: Re: How small is too small?
Post by: jayman448 on April 20, 2015, 10:12:57 pm

Um.. ill have to check xD