Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Yellowstave on May 02, 2018, 11:11:49 am

Title: Is dead standing ERC ok to use?
Post by: Yellowstave on May 02, 2018, 11:11:49 am: I found this eastern red cedar that looks really goodto me so i cut it. I plan on a sinew backing. Will the fact that it was dead without bark keep this wood from becoming a bow?
Title: Re: Is dead standing ERC ok to use?
Post by: PatM on May 02, 2018, 01:05:03 pm: ERC is very rot resistant in the heartwood. It won't hurt to try.
Title: Re: Is dead standing ERC ok to use?
Post by: Jim Davis on May 02, 2018, 01:33:04 pm: Quote from: PatM on May 02, 2018, 01:05:03 pm
ERC is very rot resistant in the heartwood. ...

But not the sap wood. Plan to remove the sap wood and back the bow.
Title: Re: Is dead standing ERC ok to use?
Post by: PatM on May 02, 2018, 02:11:52 pm: Quote from: Jim Davis on May 02, 2018, 01:33:04 pm
Quote from: PatM on May 02, 2018, 01:05:03 pm
ERC is very rot resistant in the heartwood. ...

But not the sap wood. Plan to remove the sap wood and back the bow.

Yep, that's what I was getting at with him mentioning sinew.
Title: Re: Is dead standing ERC ok to use?
Post by: Jim Davis on May 02, 2018, 10:50:25 pm: Oops. Read right over the sinew.
Title: Re: Is dead standing ERC ok to use?
Post by: Eric Krewson on May 03, 2018, 06:48:35 am: I made a hickory backed ERC form a tree that had been dead on the ground for 30+ years, the heart wood was pristine. The bow failed but it was the hickory backing that went first.
Title: Re: Is dead standing ERC ok to use?
Post by: rkeltner on May 03, 2018, 09:09:10 pm: Around here, the biggest problem I’ve run into with things like that is bugs. I’m not sure what variety of bug it is but they go all the way through side to side and totally ruin the Cedar.
Title: Re: Is dead standing ERC ok to use?
Post by: Springbuck on May 03, 2018, 10:03:05 pm: I'd try it, unless it looked really bad. Conditions matter, but ERC heartwood does take a long time to rot.