New project! (Branch Bow)

[Knotty]

Hahaha @Strichev , don't worry I'll hurry myself tomorrow and see if there's any leaf there to try and identify .

[Knotty]

Question:

Would the stave get even more reflex after backing with sinew?
 I really hope not , or it'll have so much that it'll end up breaking.

[DC]

That's one of the reasons to strap it to a 2x4. If it's taken as much reflex as the pictures show(you said it was straight when you started) in one day you want to tie it down yesterday

[Knotty]

I don't really understand how to strap it... Do you have a picture or some way to make me understand how it should be done? Thanks.

[DC]

Here's a couple of Douglas Maple staves taped to a 2x4. You don't need two staves, I was just running short. 4 or 5 wraps of duct tape will hold it.

[Knotty]

Ah I get it now, thanks!

[GB]

Good luck with your bow, Knotty.  I love finding fresh cut bow wood sitting on the curb.  So far I've scavenged apple, buckthorn, and ash from my neighborhood.
I guess it does pay to walk the dog.

[Knotty]

I totally agree, but this time I was walking my posterior ! 😂

I really hope this works out, and if it ends up breaking.. At least I learned something with it.

[DC]

Fruit and nut trees apparently make good bow wood, at least in North America. Probably no need to sinew.

[Knotty]

Really hope so @DC , we'll see what happens, only time will tell.

[mullet]

Here's a couple of Douglas Maple staves taped to a 2x4. You don't need two staves, I was just running short. 4 or 5 wraps of duct tape will hold it.

The one problem, DC is their Duc Tape is like tissue paper. Isaia, since you are learning and experimenting with wood you don't have a clue what it is, you try making "simple" bend in the handle bows instead of rigid handle bows?

[Knotty]

Eddie , I lived for 4 years in the US so I so know what Duct Tape is 😂
What you said is true, but I could use the type of tape to isolate electricity here, you know what I mean?

I have tried making a bendy handle type bow "D style" and I got one to work great on me, unfortunately it got too much set over time and it became trash..
However , I've always loved stiff handle bows, and I'd like to experiment with that design.

Any tips you could give on this piece of wood I got here?

Thanks and I appreciate your reply 😉

[BowEd]

I'm wondering if you roughed it out too narrow.You'll be surprised as to how quickly that reacted reflex pulls out.Just my two cents here but cutting the branch at least 65" long leaving it 2" wide in the limbs[if that was possible] and 3/4" thick is a good dimension to start with roughing a bow out to dry that you don't know what the wood actually is.That way you've got a better chance of the bow not coming in too light weight in the end.
A picture of the tree bark you cut the branch from might help identify what kind of wood it is.

[Knotty]

I'll see today , but I'm pretty sure all the wood is not there anymore .. I'll have to check.

[Pat B]

Binding the stave to a 2x4 with cord or rope works too.  With small diameter "poles" I will saw them in half, lengthwise, and bind the two halves back together with small spacers between them for air circulation. This will let the two staves hold each other in line and help prevent backset or twisting.