Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Don on September 17, 2008, 11:18:23 pm

Title: Elm Staves
Post by: Don on September 17, 2008, 11:18:23 pm

I cut a nice straight elm yesterday and split it and sealed the ends.
I was reading in the BB vol.I with white woods
you should remove bark and the inner bark the same time you cut and split.

Is this what everyone else does with there Elm Stave's?

Thanks Don

Title: Re: Elm Staves
Post by: Ryano on September 17, 2008, 11:30:19 pm

If the bark will come off peel it right away, otherwise you'll end up draw knifing it off later.

Title: Re: Elm Staves
Post by: Don on September 17, 2008, 11:41:28 pm

I've also heard. Seal it, don't seal it.
Which one?

Don

Title: Re: Elm Staves
Post by: Pat B on September 17, 2008, 11:44:07 pm

Even if you have to drawknife it off now it would be easier than later. Its probably too late in the year for the bark to just peel off. During the growing season is the time for that.
Even though it might not be necessary with most white woods, I always seal the back and ends with shellac when the bark comes off.     Pat

Title: Re: Elm Staves
Post by: Don on September 18, 2008, 12:22:33 am

Thanks Guys. All done.
The bark came off slick.
Pealed and sealed.
Looking forward to these, there is only one stave with any knots the other 3 look pretty clean.

Don

Title: Re: Elm Staves
Post by: cheapshot on September 18, 2008, 09:17:13 am

Pat, how do you remove the shellac without violating the back of the bow?

Title: Re: Elm Staves
Post by: welch2 on September 18, 2008, 09:50:00 am

acetone or paint remover ,,,or leave it as part of the finish .

Ralph

Title: Re: Elm Staves
Post by: Pat B on September 18, 2008, 09:58:48 am

What Ralph said. Shellac has alcohol as a carrier so denatured alcohol works also. I use spray shellac because of a longer shelf life than the brush on type.       Pat

Title: Re: Elm Staves
Post by: shamus on September 18, 2008, 11:36:22 am

Check out the latest and last issue of PA. A two-part article there covers what to do, and what NOT to do, with elm. ;)

Be careful with hidden knots.

Shamless plug, I know.  ;D

Title: Re: Elm Staves
Post by: cheapshot on September 18, 2008, 12:13:32 pm

Thanks guys, I have a acess to a hickory tree a friend needs down. I'm hoping to get several staves from this tree, want to get them split, debarked, and sealed in the next few days, so I can have some time to deer hunt.