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Author Topic: Apple as a bow wood?  (Read 14848 times)

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Offline Lee Lobbestael

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Apple as a bow wood?
« on: July 29, 2012, 11:46:01 pm »
My parents have a huge apple tree that has a nice pipe straight limb that I want to use for some self bows. Never have tried apple before. Does it make a good bow?
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Apple as a bow wood?
« Reply #1 on: July 29, 2012, 11:48:29 pm »
Yes!  ;)
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Lee Lobbestael

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Re: Apple as a bow wood?
« Reply #2 on: July 30, 2012, 12:01:29 am »
Great! Sorry bout your tree dad! >:D
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Offline Postman

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Re: Apple as a bow wood?
« Reply #3 on: July 30, 2012, 12:20:28 am »
"Pruning" the tree will make it more productive next year....     ;) Plus I'm sure you saw that limb was affected by the Japanese Fujipox virus...
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"Leave the gun....Take the cannoli"

John Poster -  Western VA

Offline Lee Lobbestael

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Re: Apple as a bow wood?
« Reply #4 on: July 30, 2012, 12:25:24 am »
There you go! Thanks Postman!
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Offline Bryce

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Re: Apple as a bow wood?
« Reply #5 on: July 30, 2012, 04:19:04 am »
Makes a GREAT!!! Bow
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Clatskanie, Oregon

Offline Lee Lobbestael

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Re: Apple as a bow wood?
« Reply #6 on: July 30, 2012, 01:24:23 pm »
Do you just treat it like a white wood then?
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Offline rossfactor

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Re: Apple as a bow wood?
« Reply #7 on: July 30, 2012, 01:53:49 pm »
Drying apply can be really tricky.  It likes to check mor than almost any wood I've seen. I'd either:

1. Immediately rough it out to almost finished shape, and then put glue on any areas that have exposed pith, wrap it in plastic and let it dry for 3-6 months or;

2. Leave the bark on, seal the ends with glue and leave it for a year.

Don't split it in half and dry it, or remove the bark and dry a round branch.  Either of those are likely to induce checking. Just a word from the unwise.  ;)

Gabe
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Humboldt County CA.

Offline Bryce

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Re: Apple as a bow wood?
« Reply #8 on: July 30, 2012, 04:50:41 pm »
Since where on the subject could a 1" wide 61" long crabapple sapling make a 50-55#@28" bow?
I've only made one apple bow so I'm no expert.
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Clatskanie, Oregon

Offline rossfactor

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Re: Apple as a bow wood?
« Reply #9 on: July 30, 2012, 05:17:44 pm »
Can't answer your question for sure Bryce, I'd reckon its doable, but ambitious.

One of the absolutely best bows I've ever seen was a crab apple character bow made by J.D. Duff back in 07.  The thing was amazing.  Check it out.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,4575.0.html

Gabe
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Humboldt County CA.

Offline Lee Lobbestael

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Re: Apple as a bow wood?
« Reply #10 on: July 30, 2012, 05:24:26 pm »
Rossfactor, that is an amazing bow! So just leave the log whole and seal the ends? Don't even split it into staves?
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Offline rossfactor

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Re: Apple as a bow wood?
« Reply #11 on: July 30, 2012, 06:03:12 pm »
Leave it whole and seal it or rough the bow out green (and seal it :)). I usually rough fruit wood bows out green, but it can be a crap-shoot.

Gabe
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Humboldt County CA.

Offline rossfactor

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Re: Apple as a bow wood?
« Reply #12 on: July 30, 2012, 06:04:01 pm »
If you split it into staves and let it dry that way I think it's much more likely to check.

Gabe
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Humboldt County CA.

Offline Lee Lobbestael

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Re: Apple as a bow wood?
« Reply #13 on: July 30, 2012, 06:19:12 pm »
what glue do you seal it with?
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Offline rossfactor

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Re: Apple as a bow wood?
« Reply #14 on: July 30, 2012, 06:22:13 pm »
Guys use different stuff. I've used TB2 or 3.  Anything that provides a decent moisture barrier will reduce excessive drying on cut surfaces like the ends of the stave.

Gabe
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Humboldt County CA.
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