« previous next »
Pages: [1]

Author Topic: advice on elm  (Read 2576 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline youngbowyer33

  • Member
  • Posts: 606
advice on elm
« on: November 13, 2009, 11:23:05 am »
just cut some elm down, should i take the bark off and seal the ends?and if so what should i use to seal em?would vaseline work?
Logged
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us"

Offline sweeney3

  • Member
  • Posts: 277
Re: advice on elm
« Reply #1 on: November 13, 2009, 11:28:10 am »
You can peel the bark now relativly easily.  You may also wait untill later and it will tend to flake off rather than peel, but that is still okay.  I'm told you could soak it in a warm shower for a half hour or so to help in removal, but I haven't tried that.  Lots of things will work to seal the ends.  Elmer's School Glue, Titebond...pretty much anything to form a barrier to prevent water quickly escaping.  I don't think you'll have too much trouble with checking in elm anyway, but sealing the ends won't hurt and may help.  Be sure to leave the stave you plan to work on a few inches longer than what you want the finished bow to be too.  If it does check any, you can remove the damaged bit later without hurting your bow, amongst other benifits. 

Enjoy!
Logged

Offline youngbowyer33

  • Member
  • Posts: 606
Re: advice on elm
« Reply #2 on: November 13, 2009, 11:29:37 am »
thanks!
Logged
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us"

Offline Del the cat

  • Member
  • Posts: 8,322
    • Derek Hutchison Native Wood Self Bows
Re: advice on elm
« Reply #3 on: November 15, 2009, 12:20:54 pm »
I use builders PVA. but just about anything will do, old paint, wood glue pasta...
Ok I'm lying about the Pasta...or am I? ::)
Del
Logged
Health warning, these posts may contain traces of nut.

Offline dragonman

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,142
    • virabows.co.uk
Re: advice on elm
« Reply #4 on: November 15, 2009, 12:53:28 pm »
I melt a few candles onto the ends, cheap and effective, But keep the wax away from areas you may want to glue later,  glue doesnt like wax
Logged
'expansion and compression'.. the secret of life is to balance these two opposing forces.......

Offline wodpow

  • Member
  • Posts: 132
Re: advice on elm
« Reply #5 on: November 16, 2009, 02:07:19 am »
Vaseline. Crisco, lard,  soft tallow, couldn't think of a more flexable barrier just wonder if if would work into the wood and discolor  it to any depth other than that it should be water tight for sure .
Logged

Offline anglobow

  • Member
  • Posts: 41
Re: advice on elm
« Reply #6 on: November 17, 2009, 04:53:40 pm »
I prefer to season elm in the round, at least for a few months. The only elm staves that I've split green or tried to rough out in the green twisted horribly while drying.
Logged

Offline makenzie71

  • Member
  • Posts: 572
  • I can robin hood an arrow if I hit it just right.
Re: advice on elm
« Reply #7 on: November 17, 2009, 05:01:36 pm »
I use paint to seal the ends...generic enamel spray paint does the trick.
Logged
Goodbye, friends. I never thought I'd die like this. But I always really hoped. ~ Fry

Offline OldBow

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,216
  • I'm just an old retired biology teacher.
Re: advice on elm
« Reply #8 on: November 17, 2009, 08:21:17 pm »
Contact twistedlimbs through this forum. He is the elm genius.
Logged
When you're retired, every day is Saturday
Pages: [1]
« previous next »