Author Topic: rosewood?  (Read 4936 times)

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Offline bushboy

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rosewood?
« on: February 19, 2014, 08:30:15 pm »
I found a really piece of r/w at my favorite wood store!from the data base it looks really good!anyone have any experience with the stuff?I ask because it's really pricey and would a take on it before I take the plunge !thx's!
Some like motorboats,I like kayaks,some like guns,I like bows,but not the wheelie type.

Offline tattoo dave

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Re: rosewood?
« Reply #1 on: February 19, 2014, 10:01:56 pm »
Never messed with it. Let us know how it goes.

Tattoo Dave
Rockford, MI

Offline Marc St Louis

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Re: rosewood?
« Reply #2 on: February 19, 2014, 10:50:50 pm »
Depends what kind of Rosewood.  If it's Brazilian then it makes excellent bows when backed with Bamboo
Home of heat-treating, Corbeil, On.  Canada

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Offline IdahoMatt

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Re: rosewood?
« Reply #3 on: February 19, 2014, 10:59:33 pm »
There was a ban on cutting true Brazilian rosewood back in the fifties or sixties.  It is very expensive.  My old boss at the guitar shop bought some documented pre ban stuff a few years back.  The boards were about 20" wide by 1 1/2" thick by 12' long he got three of them for about $7000, and he got one hell of a deal.  This was grade "A+++" wood but still very expensive none the less.  I would not make a bow out of it I would sell it and by a new bansaw :) and other goodies.
« Last Edit: February 19, 2014, 11:05:26 pm by IdahoMatt »

Offline PatM

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Re: rosewood?
« Reply #4 on: February 19, 2014, 11:26:55 pm »
There are several other species of rosewood that are also used now that Brazilian rosewood is off limits.
 The actual family that the rosewoods belong to is very large and  contains many woods that are often used in the archery industry although mainly in a decorative way or as riser material.
 Check out the names on this list.
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalbergia

Offline JW_Halverson

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Re: rosewood?
« Reply #5 on: February 19, 2014, 11:30:12 pm »
Seeing how it was often used in the necks of guitars and stuff, I would be afraid of it getting "frets".   ;D

At least you could tune the arrows to bow!

HA!  I slay myself!

But seriously, the color of rosewood and the luster you can get on a finish would make for a VERY beautiful bow.  I'd love to see one, if not shoot one. 
Guns have triggers. Bicycles have wheels. Trees and bows have wooden limbs.

Offline IdahoMatt

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Re: rosewood?
« Reply #6 on: February 19, 2014, 11:47:47 pm »
I truly love cheese.  Thank you JW

Offline toomanyknots

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Re: rosewood?
« Reply #7 on: February 20, 2014, 12:23:05 am »
The boards were about 20" wide by 1 1/2" thick by 12' long he got three of them for about $7000, and he got one hell of a deal.

Heck yes he did. Probably got a lot of sides and backs out of that, dang.
"The way of heaven is like the bending of a bow-
 the upper part is pressed down,
 the lower part is raised up,
 the part that has too much is reduced,
 the part that has too little is increased."

- Tao Te Ching, 77, A new translation by Victor H. Mair

Offline toomanyknots

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Re: rosewood?
« Reply #8 on: February 20, 2014, 12:25:03 am »
The guy from the greenmanlongbows website has a couple rosewood bellied longbows in his gallery, you could try messaging him. They sure do look pretty.
"The way of heaven is like the bending of a bow-
 the upper part is pressed down,
 the lower part is raised up,
 the part that has too much is reduced,
 the part that has too little is increased."

- Tao Te Ching, 77, A new translation by Victor H. Mair

Offline Marc St Louis

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Re: rosewood?
« Reply #9 on: February 20, 2014, 09:57:23 am »
There's another species called Brazilian Ironwood, another name is Pau Ferro, that is being sold as Brazilian Rosewood.  Perhaps that is what they are actually selling.  I was fortunate enough to come  across a small supply of Rosewood many years ago and I bought a board 6" wide by 6' long of the stuff without too many bad run-offs.  I also have some Pau Ferro and it looks similar to the Rosewood but not quite the same, it also makes great backed bows.

This is a Bamboo backed Rosewood bow I made many years ago



And this is another Bamboo backed Rosewood bow I made a few years ago



« Last Edit: April 02, 2014, 06:38:12 pm by Marc St Louis »
Home of heat-treating, Corbeil, On.  Canada

Marc@Ironwoodbowyer.com

Offline IdahoMatt

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Re: rosewood?
« Reply #10 on: February 20, 2014, 09:59:37 am »
The boards were about 20" wide by 1 1/2" thick by 12' long he got three of them for about $7000, and he got one hell of a deal.

Heck yes he did. Probably got a lot of sides and backs out of that, dang.

Yes he did they were in an old barn in North Dakota for a long time.  He has made a couple of carved archtops that are breath taking.  I'll try and post a pic of one.

Offline toomanyknots

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Re: rosewood?
« Reply #11 on: February 20, 2014, 10:54:49 am »
There's another species called Brazilian Ironwood, another name is Pau Ferro, that is being sold as Brazilian Rosewood.  Perhaps that is what they are actually selling.  I was fortunate enough to come  across a small supply of Rosewood many years ago and I bought a board 6" wide by 6' long of the stuff without too many bad run-offs.  I also have some Pau Ferro and it looks similar to the Rosewood but not quite the same, it also makes great backed bows.

This is a Bamboo backed Rosewood bow I made many years ago



And this is another Bamboo backed Rosewood bow I made a few years ago






Sweet!!!
"The way of heaven is like the bending of a bow-
 the upper part is pressed down,
 the lower part is raised up,
 the part that has too much is reduced,
 the part that has too little is increased."

- Tao Te Ching, 77, A new translation by Victor H. Mair

Offline bushboy

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Re: rosewood?
« Reply #12 on: February 20, 2014, 07:13:11 pm »
Thank's for the replies guys!marc,those are beautiful bows to say the least!they look quite narrow?is this correct?so I when back to the wood store and priced the panama rosewood.so I can get a 1_1/4"x7"x6' for bout 150$ ,think I'm gonna buy it tomorrow,perfect 1/4 sawn!hope it still there!
Some like motorboats,I like kayaks,some like guns,I like bows,but not the wheelie type.

Offline Marc St Louis

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Re: rosewood?
« Reply #13 on: February 20, 2014, 07:55:28 pm »
The limb width was around 1 1/4".  Both bows pulled about 55#.  The wood is not quite as strong as Ipe
Home of heat-treating, Corbeil, On.  Canada

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Offline bushboy

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Re: rosewood?
« Reply #14 on: February 20, 2014, 10:13:06 pm »
Thanks for the info!do you have a pic by chance of the jig that you use for your glueups?thank's!
Some like motorboats,I like kayaks,some like guns,I like bows,but not the wheelie type.