Just made some firewood!

[Glenn R.]

    Just turned a cherry stave into firewood, but I've got an identical sister stave to it. Wow, it really is weak on tension--gonna have to overbuild it and definately apply backing---just curious to see what it would do (sap wood) without the sinew or rawhide---don't imagine it will be the last bow I'll break experimenting with these other woods---on the other hand out of 5 osage bows built have never had one break(osage)-----knock on wood.

[GregB]

Sorry for the disappointing outcome on your cherry stave. There's always risk associated with working with new woods for the first time...nothing ventured, nothing gained I guess. Hope you have better luck with your other stave.

[venisonburger]

Been there, done that, maybe that sister stave will work out.
VB

[Pat B]

Try to over build the next one a bit more and add a simple backing of silk, linen or brown paper. Any of them will help hold the back together. The only cherry bows I ever built were mostly sapwood self bows with a little heartwood in the handle. I used Paul Comstock's "overbuilt" instructions and they all shot well...not great but well.     Pat

[OldBow]

Send the pieces to George Tsoukalas. He uses them for tomato stakes.

[adb]

Hey, Glenn
I've backed cherry with both hickory and maple, and they both turned out very well.