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Offline youngbowyer33

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advice on elm
« on: November 13, 2009, 11:23:05 am »
just cut some elm down, should i take the bark off and seal the ends?and if so what should i use to seal em?would vaseline work?
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Offline sweeney3

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Re: advice on elm
« Reply #1 on: November 13, 2009, 11:28:10 am »
You can peel the bark now relativly easily.  You may also wait untill later and it will tend to flake off rather than peel, but that is still okay.  I'm told you could soak it in a warm shower for a half hour or so to help in removal, but I haven't tried that.  Lots of things will work to seal the ends.  Elmer's School Glue, Titebond...pretty much anything to form a barrier to prevent water quickly escaping.  I don't think you'll have too much trouble with checking in elm anyway, but sealing the ends won't hurt and may help.  Be sure to leave the stave you plan to work on a few inches longer than what you want the finished bow to be too.  If it does check any, you can remove the damaged bit later without hurting your bow, amongst other benifits. 

Enjoy!
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Offline youngbowyer33

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Re: advice on elm
« Reply #2 on: November 13, 2009, 11:29:37 am »
thanks!
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Offline Del the cat

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Re: advice on elm
« Reply #3 on: November 15, 2009, 12:20:54 pm »
I use builders PVA. but just about anything will do, old paint, wood glue pasta...
Ok I'm lying about the Pasta...or am I? ::)
Del
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Offline dragonman

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Re: advice on elm
« Reply #4 on: November 15, 2009, 12:53:28 pm »
I melt a few candles onto the ends, cheap and effective, But keep the wax away from areas you may want to glue later,  glue doesnt like wax
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Offline wodpow

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Re: advice on elm
« Reply #5 on: November 16, 2009, 02:07:19 am »
Vaseline. Crisco, lard,  soft tallow, couldn't think of a more flexable barrier just wonder if if would work into the wood and discolor  it to any depth other than that it should be water tight for sure .
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Offline anglobow

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Re: advice on elm
« Reply #6 on: November 17, 2009, 04:53:40 pm »
I prefer to season elm in the round, at least for a few months. The only elm staves that I've split green or tried to rough out in the green twisted horribly while drying.
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Offline makenzie71

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Re: advice on elm
« Reply #7 on: November 17, 2009, 05:01:36 pm »
I use paint to seal the ends...generic enamel spray paint does the trick.
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Offline OldBow

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Re: advice on elm
« Reply #8 on: November 17, 2009, 08:21:17 pm »
Contact twistedlimbs through this forum. He is the elm genius.
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