Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Red Arrow on April 25, 2017, 12:43:29 am
-
This ERC has been leaning almost on the ground in my woods for at least a year, maybe 2 and I got tired of stepping over or walking around it so I harvested it today and split it to see how it would do. What do y'all think? Workable staves or firewood?
-
Btw: they are currently at least 8-9' ft in length but they did gain some twist as I split it which can probably still be cut off the ends.
-
Was it alive or dead?
-
I made a bow from cedar that had been on the ground for at least 30 years just to see if I could. I backed the bow with hickory which failed and took the cedar with it. There was no sapwood in the bow.
The cedars I cut the wood from were 12" in diameter, the heart wood was sound when I cut the trunk into lumber. I was cutting the trunk up to make gizmos out of it but decided to try to make a bow out of clear piece. I still have a few more staves left to try if I run out of other projects.
-
What Clint said.
Looks good to me. I would peel bark off and see what the sapwood looks like.
From what I hear ERC is pretty rot resistant so if it was not on the ground dead a long time it is probably good IMO
-
It has been down (laying across another tree's limbs) for at least a year with the roots still in the ground but the trunk was about 2-3 ft off the ground at the top of the 20 ft length. I cut it in half, then pulled the lower section with the root out of the ground before cutting the root off. Doesn't appear to be much bark left on it and very little sap wood, mostly just heart wood by the looks of the cut ends.
-
Stave. Just go slower working the limbs then normal. Get in a hurry and it will blow.
-
...and back it with rawhide.
-
I wouldn't waste a second wondering, I'd reduce it to near dimension, strap it to a 2x4 to prevent warping and impatiently wait to get started tillering.
Maybe it will work, maybe it won't. ERC has incredible potential and I'd not turn those down if they came my way!
-
The thing is there is plenty of ERC in the woods behind my house I can harvest at any time. Then I'd have to wait for it to season. This tree was already down and seasoned so I want to make use of it if feasible.
-
As long as it is attached to the ground or touching the ground there is moisture to get rid of.
ERC makes good sinew backed bows too.
-
You know someone has to say it, ;D be sure wear a helmet and safety glasses. Good luck. ;)
Pappy
-
You know someone has to say it, ;D be sure wear a helmet and safety glasses. Good luck. ;)
Pappy
ERC has a well earned reputation for contracting DDD.*
*Dramatic Disassembly Disease
-
If you think it is firewood -- send it to me ;)