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Author Topic: Hackberry Sapling  (Read 1948 times)

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Offline DavidV

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Hackberry Sapling
« on: December 22, 2012, 09:03:40 pm »
I'm working on a hackberry sapling right now and I'm wondering if I'm wasting my time. The stave itself is 61" and it is 1.5" wide in the middle, tapering to 1/2" tips. A little short and not much width to compensate. I think I'm going to go with a simple D-style bow with a bendy handle but I may flip the tips if there would be any benefit.

Also, could someone explain heat treating without a heat gun. And at what point is heat treating done? When it is completely tillered?
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Springfield, MO

Offline okie64

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Re: Hackberry Sapling
« Reply #1 on: December 22, 2012, 09:12:34 pm »
I heat treat my bows when I have them tillered out to 20" or so. I have also done it when the bow was completely tillered. Hackberry needs to be heat treated or it will take some set. Ive only done it once without a heat gun, I reverse braced it and heated it over hot coals from a campfire. I like using a heat gun better, i feel like I have better control. That hackberry sapling should make a fine bow, be sure to post some pics. I love hackberry
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Offline Carson (CMB)

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Re: Hackberry Sapling
« Reply #2 on: December 22, 2012, 09:13:37 pm »
I dont see why you would not be able to make a bow from that.  I wrote up a little post on heat treating over coals, that you can read on my blog http://echoarchery.blogspot.com/   I heat-treated after getting about 18" draw, then tillered it to near full draw and did a second heat treating.  Then some minor tiller touch up and it is shooting. 
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"The bow is the old first lyre,
the mono chord, the initial rune of fine art
The humanities grew out from archery as a flower from a seed
No sooner did the soft, sweet note of the bow-string charm the ear of genius than music was born, and from music came poetry and painting and..." Maurice Thompso

Offline bubby

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Re: Hackberry Sapling
« Reply #3 on: December 22, 2012, 09:42:14 pm »
you can heat treat with your kitchen stove, Bub
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Offline Zion

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  • The blacksmith's mare walks barefoot
Re: Hackberry Sapling
« Reply #4 on: December 22, 2012, 11:11:41 pm »
Pretty much all my bows have been from pieces like what you're talking about. It's totally doable. I heat treat my bows in front of my wood stove, over hot embers or coals. Usually after a heat-treatment you'll have to adjust the tiller.
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The secret of life is learning to make your own luck.
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