New project! (Branch Bow)

[Knotty]

Good morning bowyers and archers of PA!

Yesterday I was having a quick walk down around the neighborhood and to my surprise there was a massive tree that someone fell, all the leaves were already dry so I guessed it was cut in the earlier week or so which got me thinking that the tree would have been already infested by bugs, so, I continued my walk.
On the way back I thought "Might aswell take a branch and see what's up with it"
So I headed home, got myself a hacksaw and cut the branch off..

I didn't even take a picture of the branch because I thought it would be a failure all eaten by bugs on the inside..
But surprisingly , I de-barked the branch and there was no signs of bugs whatsoever.

I roughed it out to final shape and it's pretty heavy at about 80 # I would guess (still green wood) ,
Which is still too high for me.

When I cut the branch, it was perfectly straight.. But as soon as the roughed out shape was done, it revealed a beautiful natural reflex which I have never experienced before.

Pictures will be coming!!

[Knotty]

http://prntscr.com/bhm9z1

Full profile view ^^^


http://prntscr.com/bhmaoy

View down the side of the stave ^^^^

[Knotty]

Will be letting it dry for sometime and I'll keep posting progress on this thread , wish me luck to not screw it up.

[bjrogg]

That looks like the shape your looking for Knotty. Might want to seal the back so it doesn't dry to fast and check. Good luck

[Knotty]

Alrighty, thanks for the advice!

[le0n]

seal the ends with some glue or polyurethane to help prevent it from drying too quickly.

depending on the type of wood, it can begin to check/split/crack within a few hours to a few days/weeks if not properly sealed.

you can also use plastic or vinyl bags over the ends to keep the moisture from leaving too quickly. just put a few rubber bands to hold them in place.

[DC]

Seal the back and ends and strap it down to stop it from taking any more reflex. I just duct tape them to a 2x4. It looks like you were a little rough with the back, can we have a better picture of it.

[Knotty]

Sure can! @DC , coming right up !

[Knotty]

Here you go http://prntscr.com/bhnegw
It's a closeup,
The little fibers sticking up are there because its still green, but as soon as its dry ,  they go away with a light sanding on the back.

If I went too rough tell me, and I'll probably sinew back it 😉

[DC]

I think that looks OK. The other pictures looked like you'd attacked it with an axe

Do you know what kind of wood it is?

[Knotty]

Well I attacked it with a machete if that counts 😂😂😋

Jokes apart, I'm happy that looks fine and by the way le0n I did as you said,
Since I dont really have any sealing product right now I added two plastic bags at the tips and tied them with an elastic, I guess that should work!

Thanks guys, in about a week I'll go back at it and post some progress!

[Will B]

Good luck Knotty.  Should make you a fine bow.

[le0n]

what kind of tree was this from?

[Knotty]

Got no idea le0n but I assume it's some type of native wild fruit tree.

[Strichev]

You don't know? You... don't... know? It might turn out to be a suborbital anti aircraft arrow launcher and we'll never know what kind of Brazilian super-yew it was that you found!