It's Done! - Cherry Bark Backed Snakey Osage

[330bull]

Hah I was waiting for a response like that! 

Dana - Yes it took 4 pieces to back the bow.

Pat - I used Titebond II,  I also posted a cherry bark buildalong on this exact same bow.  You can find the thread pretty easily.

Enjoy!

[duffontap]

Question:  how big of trees do you get your bark off of?  I've been looking at a lot of bitter cherry lately but I haven't found any worth debarking.  I was cruising some older forest last Friday with a timber manager who wanted to show me how big cherry trees got.  Wow. 

             J. D. Duff

[330bull]

JD - This bark came from a tree that was 10-12" in diameter.  But the way I see it, unless you find a huge tree that you can get one continuous piece out of...a 6" diameter tree will bear ~18.8568" of bark.   

Joe

[duffontap]

Thanks Joe,
I don't know if you're seen them, but bitter cherry gets quite large.  I was wondering what size of tree you got your bark off of because I didn't find anything but paper-thin bark on the very large trees I was looking at.  I sorted through a pile of big bitter cherry logs once and found some bark that was nearly 1/8" thick.  I haven't ever seen anything like it since--even on the biggest trees.

I've built a vine maple bow backed with cherry, by the way.  Nice contrast.

                     J. D. Duff

[Asiertxu]

I REALLY REALLY like that bow you made Joe!!!!.... ...THAT´S BEAUTIFULL!!!!... ...
All on that bow is awesome mate.
Only a few questionas Joe:
What kind of pen do you used to paint over your bow...?...
and...
How did you to protect this paint from outside elements...?...
did you applied more finish coats over it to avoid umidity penetration, or something like that mate?...
Thanks for share that BEAUTY!!...
Cheers...
Asier. 

[AndrewS]

Hey Joe

What a nice bow you have worked out! Congratulations to this beauty!

[Marc St Louis]

Very nice bow

[Pat B]

Stan, I think that decision is Joe's to make.     Pat

[330bull]

Thanks again everyone fro your compliments; I am humbled.

JD:  I just harvested a bunch of pretty nice bark , did you need any?  The bark I used on this tree was probably .030" thick or so, definitely not an 1/8".

Asier: 

1. I put 5-6 coats of Tru Oil, then applied the writing via Pigma Micron Pen.  2. I let the ink dry for 10 minutes or so but don;t smudge it, because it will smudge!
2. I then immediately applied a coat of "ACE Hardware Store – Clear Professional Finish.  #Gloss – 90081" finish to seal the ink.
3. Afterwards I applied 3 more coats of the polyurethane and then hit the final coat with 0000 Steel Wool. 
4. After that I place 4-5 coats or Carnauba(sp?) floor wax; that's how I seal the finishes from the elements!

I hope that helps everyone!

Joe

[Asiertxu]

Hey Joe!!!
Thank you for your fast and accurate description regarding to de sealing, ink and finish...REALLY HELPFULL FOR ME and EVERYONE...!!..  ...
THANKS ALOT mate!!
Cheers and keep up that cool work you make!!
Asier.

[cowboy]

Cool bow all around Joe, love that Strunk style handle wrap - where could I find those direction's? I was thinking about backing one with Birch bark - same story, the peices I have are only about sixteen inches long. Do you saturate the bark with glue, or keep it dry on the backside?

[Justin Snyder]

Nice work Joe.  This is an impressive bow.  Justin

[Dustybaer]

that is a beauty, indeed.

[Wasatchhawk]

Here's the link to the Chery Backing Build along.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,2366.0.html

Randy

[mack]

Really fine craftmanship. Love the handle work and the added mojo of the tooth.  The bow is a real head turner in person I'm sure.

mack