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Author Topic: cedar curing  (Read 3566 times)

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primate

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cedar curing
« on: March 23, 2009, 01:36:42 pm »
im new here and i have a few questions. i will tell u that i have made a few bows all of hickory and they have turned out quite nice. but i have the itch to make a western style bow from cedar. my question is how lon to dry out and which part to use. my hickory bows i take to almost floor tiller and thentie down to dry usually about a month or less. i cut a cedar two days ago ad split it. thats all ive done. should i take it to bow shape or what. can anyone help.
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Offline Pat B

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Re: cedar curing
« Reply #1 on: March 23, 2009, 01:43:52 pm »
First off, what cedar are you using. Eastern Red Cedar(Juniperus virginiana) will dry relatively quick, lots quicker than hickory.IMO
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

primate

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Re: cedar curing
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2009, 01:50:13 pm »
eastern red cedar i live in waxhaw nc
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Offline Pat B

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Re: cedar curing
« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2009, 01:53:30 pm »
You can make a bow from the sapwood, sapwood/heartwood combo or just the heartwood but I would back the all heartwood bow. Hickory makes an excellent backing for ERC.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

primate

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Re: cedar curing
« Reply #4 on: March 23, 2009, 01:56:25 pm »
i plan on sinewing this bow can i stiill use all sapwood or shourd i just use heartwood.
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Offline Pat B

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Re: cedar curing
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2009, 05:08:16 pm »
I believe you can use either but not both. ???   I have heard sinew will pull the sapwood off of the heartwood. I don't know this as a fact!...but I do have a 49" ERC sap/heart stave I want to sinew. When I get around to it, I'll let you know how it works. In the mean time, when you're done with yours, I want to know how it went.  ;)
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

primate

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Re: cedar curing
« Reply #6 on: March 23, 2009, 06:51:46 pm »
i think ill try it both ways. you can only learn by doing. thanks
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Offline ricktrojanowski

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Re: cedar curing
« Reply #7 on: March 23, 2009, 08:57:03 pm »
Primate-
I just finished sinewing an all heartwood ERC.  I chased it down to a single ring, then sinewed.  I did two layers, than let that dry, followed by two more layers.  Before I had a chance to wrap the tips. (While the first two layers dried)  The sinew had pulled up with one ring of wood for about 4" on one limb.  So I would recommend wrapping you tips right away.
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Traverse City, MI

primate

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Re: cedar curing
« Reply #8 on: March 23, 2009, 09:07:29 pm »
thanks good advice ill remember it
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primate

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Re: cedar curing
« Reply #9 on: March 23, 2009, 09:18:40 pm »
anyone care to tell me how many courses of sinew i should use. and is leg better than back for this type of bow. how many legs/backs? thanks
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Offline ricktrojanowski

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Re: cedar curing
« Reply #10 on: March 23, 2009, 11:17:49 pm »
The stave I sinewed was 58" long and 1 7/8" wide at mid limb.  I used 3 layers over the whole back and one layer crowning the back using backstrap sinew.  I've read that some prefer leg over backstrap, but I've also read the opposite.  So I would use whatever you can get.  I think it took me about 7- 8 backstrap.  I didn't really keep track and I have some processed stuff left over. 
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Traverse City, MI
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