Bows from greenwood

[HoorayHorace]

I have some elm and hickory, thought it's only been two months since cut.

Don't really want to wait 10 more months before I can stay on any of it.

How bad a bow will moist wood make?

Would be nice to do some practice for self bows. 

[bushboy]

Maybe cut them into bow blanks,store inside, they will season quite quickly depending on the RH.

[Del the cat]

Rough out a bow and then stick it on a long radiator that doesn't get too hot (just warm is fine). You can get it seasoned in about a month, you may get some warping so don't make it too narrow, just loose some of the thickness.
If you make a greenwood bow and shoot it, it will be a bit rubbery, it will then stiffen up as it dries and may well break... that's what happened to all the bows I made as a kid.
If you work on two staves, use the worst one for rapid seasoning and that will give you something to play with while the better one is seasoning more slowly. Also get out and cut some more staves this time of year.
Del

[HoorayHorace]

Thanks Bush and Del.

Very true, I'm going to rough out the staves, though very conservetly, and the. Store them away for future use.

 

[wizardgoat]

I'd use a hatchet and half the logs, and leave them for a few more weeks before roughing out bow blanks. When you expose some heartwood it loses water pretty quick, and you want some meat to prevent excessive warping.
Ive had horrible luck with twisting and warping green staves.
Keep cutting wood too, its good to get a flow going, youll be happy you did in a years time
Be patient. Rushing bows makes bad bows

[HoorayHorace]

They aren't logs, but big thick staves. Been cut two months now, but stored in a dark and very damp/moist place. Average is 7 foot.

Going to rough out the staves to 1.5 inch depth and 2.5 inche's wide, and then stick them aside for 10 months.

Will seal with some shellac or glue or something 

[bushboy]

Good. Point wg!i usually cut the logs into staves and let them sit for a month or so before cutting blanks.maybe if you rachet strapped them to a 2x4 or something you could skip a step

[Del the cat]

Very damp moist place is bad... you want dry and airy... unless you like fungus and rot.
Del

[HoorayHorace]

Thanks for the head up.

I'll rough them out and put them in the spare room!

[blackhawk]

Good bows can still be made quickdrying wood.  I've done it many a time.  This was the last one I did...this bow was shooting arrows a month and three days cut from the stump.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,46646.0.html

[bradsmith2010]

clamp into place so it does not warp

[sleek]

Good bows can still be made quickdrying wood.  I've done it many a time.  This was the last one I did...this bow was shooting arrows a month and three days cut from the stump.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,46646.0.html

How did you quick dry it Chris?

[blackhawk]

Reduce stave to near bow dimensions(slightly stiff floor tiller)

Weigh it and record weight

Hot box it starting at 80° and between 30-40%rh,and up the temperature 5-10° each week monitoring/recording the weight.

Should be dry in 3 weeks easy and not losing anymore weight,and ready to work after the 4th week.

Your results may vary

[HoorayHorace]

Thanks for all helpful replies.

I've tidied the staves up and sealed them with shellac and then wood glue. Now in the spare room.

Will give them at least 6 months before checking the moisture.

[Drewster]

Horace, since it seems you're getting serious about building bows, you may want to consider building yourself a hot box.  I built one per Dean Torges' design in "Hunting the Osage Bow".  Its been great.....stays in constant use.  I even insulated mine.  With pans of water in the bottom and varying the wattage of the light bulbs, you can control the MC and temperature year round and it does a great job of speeding up the process of curing staves......safely.

Make yourself a couple of forms from 2x6s and clamp those newly roughed out staves to them.  It'll reduce a huge amount of warpage problems.

Good luck and have fun.

Drew