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Author Topic: birch stave revisited  (Read 5062 times)

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Offline bootboy

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    • vinland longbows
birch stave revisited
« on: August 27, 2009, 11:35:38 am »
oi oi howdy mates! one and all! Im back to business. I have a 76 1/2" birch stave with a nice natural recurve on one end.
Id like to make some around 70lbs with it. How do I proceed to design something from birch.  flat belly? decrowned? Both? hea treat the belly?
Id like it to be somewhat viking themed also.
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Offline Ryano

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  • Ryan O'Sullivan, North Western Pennsylvania
Re: birch stave revisited
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2009, 11:52:47 am »
Well its pretty hard to say how to go about it with out some pictures and more info. But I'd stick with a crowned back and semi flat belly, and a little heat never hurts.
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Offline bootboy

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Re: birch stave revisited
« Reply #2 on: August 27, 2009, 01:05:37 pm »
photo

[attachment deleted by admin]
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Offline DanaM

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Re: birch stave revisited
« Reply #3 on: August 27, 2009, 01:09:12 pm »
I've never made a birch bow but 70 lbs might be asking a bit much, but at 76" it might just work ???
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Offline bootboy

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Re: birch stave revisited
« Reply #4 on: August 27, 2009, 01:11:31 pm »
I've made a few poplar longbows 1 1/2" wide 6' long, They crysalled really badly. Id imagine that birch would be similar wood.
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Offline adb

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Re: birch stave revisited
« Reply #5 on: August 27, 2009, 01:25:24 pm »
Birch is much denser than poplar, but it still needs to be wide and flat. I think you've got your work cut out for you if you want a 70# bow from that stave.
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Offline bootboy

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Re: birch stave revisited
« Reply #6 on: August 27, 2009, 03:23:10 pm »
hahahahaha i have just split it and its got a huge twist. wait for photos this is awesome you gotta see it
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Offline Ryano

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  • Ryan O'Sullivan, North Western Pennsylvania
Re: birch stave revisited
« Reply #7 on: August 27, 2009, 04:52:23 pm »
What species of birch do you have it makes a diferance. I've made bows of yellow birch that held up fine. Its similar to most any medium density white wood.
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Its November, I'm gone hunt'in.......
Osage is still better.....

Offline bootboy

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Re: birch stave revisited
« Reply #8 on: August 28, 2009, 12:07:39 am »
this is paper birch i have a log that split Really well that was yellow birch

here the paper birch stave though.

[attachment deleted by admin]
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Offline bootboy

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Re: birch stave revisited
« Reply #9 on: August 28, 2009, 12:08:38 am »
beautiful stave huh?? hahahaha
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Offline Pat B

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Re: birch stave revisited
« Reply #10 on: August 28, 2009, 12:12:52 am »
It will make a good propeller for your Sopwith Camel! ;D
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Offline DanaM

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Re: birch stave revisited
« Reply #11 on: August 28, 2009, 06:52:00 am »
Firewood ::)  I'm with Ryano yellow birch is much denser than white birch and poplar(aspen)
isn't even good for firewood
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Offline youngbowyer33

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Re: birch stave revisited
« Reply #12 on: August 28, 2009, 05:19:37 pm »
ya yellow birch is best for bows of all the birches i believe
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Offline bootboy

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Re: birch stave revisited
« Reply #13 on: August 28, 2009, 08:52:51 pm »
what are the properties of birch, poor in compression obviously, but how is it in tension?
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Far East Archer

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Re: birch stave revisited
« Reply #14 on: August 29, 2009, 02:35:06 am »
All birch tree for average density above .50, which mean all birch CAN make bow, but I not say easy.
Black cherry,Prunus serotina, have average density of .50 and can make bow.....

Best birch is sweet birch, Betula lenta, its density is 0.71, yellow birch, Betula lutea, seem also good at 0.66
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