Elm sapling bow (bows)

[Greg DeJanes]

 The one's I have seen as staves on ebay had an almost red center with a light outer ring. Hope I can get info. from the seller and verify. I guess white Oak could be another option too. I will probably have a Vine Maple stave soon. They sure can make interesting primitive looking designs.

Thanks for your advice,
Greg

[txdm]

txdm ; the back of the bow is always the outside of the tree. In the bow im working on now a big knot poked out so I decided I make it the handle- thats why it looks backwards.

What I meant to ask is, how do you decide which side of a whole sapling/limb will become the back of a bow, before you split it?

[ksnow]

I'd pick the cleanest side, or the side that will allow the bow to have natural reflex.  You have to look at the wood and see the bow inside the piece.

Kyle

[Aksel]

Exactly what Kyle said. And usually you dont need to split a sapling, the handle is often as thick as the whole tree - just start cut away wood of the belly side of the limbs.