Ocean spray

[sharpend60]

I noticed an ocean spray near my home (NW Oregon).
Id like to make a bow out of  it, its nice and straight.
Every piece of ocean spray Ive seen has badly checked.
I hear its awesome bow wood. I would really like to try some.

Anybody ever stopped Ocean spray from checking?
I was thinking seal up the ends and store it inside, is this good enough?
Perhaps I should want until the weather cools off as well...

[KenH]

I think  s-l-o-w drying would be the ticket.  Even so you may get some checking on the ends, even sealed.  I've never used it for making bows, but apparently it was a NA favorite for both bows, and arrows.  The wood takes heat-treating very well, apparently.  Find a nice big piece and make a PNW Paddle Bow!!!

[walkabout]

i agree slow drying woul;d be the ticket if its prone to checking. cut your stave long and seal the ends, then put it somewhere like a basement  or garage where its not completely dry for awhile, then transition into somewhere drier. i read this process somewhere for woods that take slow drying this way but cant remember where. anyhow, just gradual drying should do the trick. if nothing else you might get some billets if it still checks.

[aaron]

hey, whereya from. ? I'm in SW WA.   I cut some ocean spray recently with another guy on this forum. we sealed the ends and left the bark on and are keeping our fingers crossed. I have shot a bow of ocean spray once- seemed like a real dense wood. The biggest ones we cut were about 2 and a half inches diameter. have you looked into vine maple? It's common, and can be dried in just a couple of months.
Aaron

[sharpend60]

Im near Portland.
This ocean spray is about 2.5 inches, not huge but it doesnt get a whole lot larger.

Ive made 2 vine maple bows, its real tricky given my current skill level.
My latest broke near the fade...
Ill post pics and get some advice on how to fix it some other time...