Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Russ on February 22, 2020, 10:46:16 am
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I have a stave that I am working on right now and there was a spot on the side where it was split from the log where there was some wood pulling away. It was causing some problems so i took it off but now I cant follow the grain from the side like I was planning on doing. I really want this bow to turn out well so i dont want any grain violations. so, how do you follow the grain??
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oh yeah, its osage too
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I’m not following you. Are you talking about the edge of the bow? Some times the fibers separate, or get pulled apart when the stave is split. Is that what you are talking about?
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yes. im chasing a ring on it.
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Can't you run a drawknife down the side to smooth it out so you can see the grain again? If I'm following you?
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If I am right about this, you have lateral fibers, along the edge of the limb that have separated. If so you will have cracks running off the edge. A real problem. Do as DC suggested and work the edge until you get past the splits.
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can you show us a picture of the problem area? That will take a lot of the guess work out for us.
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Yes photos please
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After you chase to your ring, look at stave closely and you can see the grain running tip to tip. Draw a pencil line down the middle following it. Set up your width by measuring on either side appropriately.
You must do this with osage.
Check my site.
http://traditionalarchery101.com/layout.html
Jawge
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You don't follow grain from the side. You follow grain from above... while looking down onto the bow's back... the side facing away from the archer while shooting.
Growth rings can be seen on the side of a stave.
Grain, and growth rings are two very different and distinguished things.
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I am new to this, but when you say “side you were planning on doing”. Do you mean chasing a ring? You can only chase a ring on the top of the stave and that becomes the back of your bow. The sides then will be reduced until you establish your width profile. Does this help or am I misunderstanding?
Greg
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yeah ill get pictures. its from when the stave was split.
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untill i get pics heres what i could draw up.
the red is what i took off
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You don't follow grain from the side. You follow grain from above... while looking down onto the bow's back... the side facing away from the archer while shooting.
Growth rings can be seen on the side of a stave.
Grain, and growth rings are two very different and distinguished things.
yes i know :) im looking from the back
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I am new to this, but when you say “side you were planning on doing”. Do you mean chasing a ring? You can only chase a ring on the top of the stave and that becomes the back of your bow. The sides then will be reduced until you establish your width profile. Does this help or am I misunderstanding?
Greg
I ment to say "follow the grain from the side like i was planning on doing." basically when a stave is split it follows the grain more or less so i take a pencil and hold it while putting my fingers on the side of the stave and then running my fingers along the side with the pencil in the middle of the stave, putting a line that follows the outside of the stave. then i go back and tweak the line to follow the grain exactly.
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Common issue. How wide is the narrowest spot? If better than 1 inch, like 1.25”...make the bow that wide.
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ok, still try to follow the grain though as well as i can?? right??
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Ok so i dont think i phrased my questions right. how can I follow the grain without looking at the side of the stave because now in that area, the sides don't follow the grain anymore.
I ask this question because when i look at the back I cant see the grain. and maybe im just not looking hard enough.
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Draw a center line down the limb following the grain. That line is your road map. Now the limb will follow the grain. How wide is the narrow spot?
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1 1/2 - 2"
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Just make it 1.5” wide. That’s plenty. Use your centerline to set the edges at 1.5” wide. Easy peasy.
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Russell,
If you have chased a ring and cleaned up the back, you should start by marking a center line starting at the most narrow spot on the stave. Find the center there and draw a line in pencil down the back of the bow. You should be able to see the lines in the grain that run lengthwise up and down the bow.
After you have marked the centerline, make sure it leaves enough width up and down the bow for your design. If not redo the centerline more to one side or the other.
If the centerline is good then mark your handle and limbs with their corresponding widths.
Once you’ve done that, remove wood to get to your desired width. If you’re using a draw knife, go slowly. When you get close to the line, the blade of the draw knife will tell you how close your marked line is to following the grain. Be careful not to let your draw knife dig into the limb past your width line.
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Russell,
If you have chased a ring and cleaned up the back, you should start by marking a center line starting at the most narrow spot on the stave. Find the center there and draw a line in pencil down the back of the bow. You should be able to see the lines in the grain that run lengthwise up and down the bow.
After you have marked the centerline, make sure it leaves enough width up and down the bow for your design. If not redo the centerline more to one side or the other.
If the centerline is good then mark your handle and limbs with their corresponding widths.
Once you’ve done that, remove wood to get to your desired width. If you’re using a draw knife, go slowly. When you get close to the line, the blade of the draw knife will tell you how close your marked line is to following the grain. Be careful not to let your draw knife dig into the limb past your width line.
Couldn't have said it better. That's what I'd do
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ok thanks!!
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If you can, show us a few pictures of the bow once you have it marked out. Maybe some close ups of the centerline following the grain if possible.
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got it im at school rn tho.
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If you don't feel sure about the center line, move to different lighting, or move the stave around until it catches the light so you can see the grain. It should be easy and obvious if you are in the right light.
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Dearhunter, you can see the grain running tip to tip on the stave.
See my last post.
Jawge