Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: dane lund on August 26, 2016, 12:02:07 pm

Title: Red elm stave
Post by: dane lund on August 26, 2016, 12:02:07 pm

Just got a nice, small, red elm stave.  Approx 50" long.  Never worked red elm.... Do you treat it like hickory?  Back of the white wood=back of bow?
Looks really pretty.  Nice dark heart wood, contrasting the white.
Thanks in advance.

Title: Re: Red elm stave
Post by: Pat B on August 26, 2016, 12:15:15 pm

Yes, just treat it like any other whitewood.

Title: Re: Red elm stave
Post by: sleek on August 26, 2016, 12:22:56 pm

Ake the limbs wide, 2 inches at least and toast the belly if you can. It likes it.

Title: Re: Red elm stave
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on August 26, 2016, 12:39:43 pm

Well, at 50" you don't really have many options. It cant be too wide or your grip area will become an issue. Can you cut in half the long way and splice it back together to get some decent length?

Title: Re: Red elm stave
Post by: sleek on August 26, 2016, 12:48:03 pm

I was thinking narrow  handle wide fades, probably pyramid profile. But I like your idea much better Pearl.

Title: Re: Red elm stave
Post by: dane lund on August 26, 2016, 12:59:07 pm

Pearl,
I know the length is an issue.  Possibly a nice kids bow? 
Haven't worked it before, so thinking small.

Title: Re: Red elm stave
Post by: sleek on August 26, 2016, 01:00:27 pm

How wide is it?

Title: Re: Red elm stave
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on August 26, 2016, 01:06:56 pm

At 50" long, I wouldn't ask for anything more than about 20-23" max, weight can be what you want it to be. I try to build durable bows that will hopefully last for a long time and yet shoot nicely. Sure, you can always maximize this and that and shorten this and that, but you wont have the same bow after 500 shots most often.