Is there a bow in here???

[Easternarcher]

Maybe some of you remember this Hornbeam log that I acquired last fall.
Well, tonite I decided to split the thing to see what I had. Now, even tho I pay close attention to the self-bow build alongs etc, I don't know what I should do with this thing. The other half was riddled with large live knots so I'm pretty sure it's firewood.

But I took my spokeshave to this one and cleaned up the split just abit so I could get soem good picks.
What's your opinions? Should I look for a better stave?

[Auggie]

Split it again, and lay your bows out. Try the split with out the knot first. Then when youre done with that one start on the other. That limb knot might  dissapear  when you get to roughing your bow out.

[GregB]

I think you should be able to get a bow out of that stave. I would lay the bow out as far on the stave away from that knot as possible. Other then that the stave looks pretty clean. You'll need to heat the roughed-in bow and remove propellor which it looks like it will have. A form would be very useful for this if you've got one. You can remove propellor and add some reflex at the same time. I'd apply some cooking oil on the belly side of the bow prior to applying heat.

[DanaM]

By all means go for it even if in the end ya fail you will learn so much.

[Skeaterbait]

Not sure, send it on over and I'll let you know 

[broad_head]

Hi
    If you are going to make a flat bow I would use a string line to get an idea of where to position the handle and mark the bow out on the stave as it is. I would not worry about the limbs if the twist is not to great. If you neck the wood out at the handle and steam it, you could introduce some reflex, be careful if you do this as to much can make tillering difficult.
                                                                                                                       Peter (UK)

[Marc St Louis]

Looks good enough for a bow to me. Make sure you are carefull when removing the cambium. Ironwood has very thin rings and you can go through the outer ring easily.

[George Tsoukalas]

There is a bow in there if the bowyer can coax it out. Actually, am I missing something? That looks like a pretty good stave. Easternarcher, what are you looking at that seems daunting to you? Jawge

[Pappy]

I can see one ,like Marc said be careful when debarking.Never had to chase a ring on IW.
It could be tough.
     Pappy

[Easternarcher]

There is a bow in there if the bowyer can coax it out. Actually, am I missing something? That looks like a pretty good stave. Easternarcher, what are you looking at that seems daunting to you? Jawge

lol...George, everything. I've never built a selfie before so I'm imtimidated by what to start with.. And as I understand I should use the natural back for the backing. humps-bumps and all. I've already de-barked it as you can see. The split went very well I think. The other side has a lot of knots, so I'll likely toss that side.
Use heat to remove twist and induce reflex....all that is new to me I'm afraid. Also afraid that without a glued down backing, this thing will explode and crack my noggin.

Should I leave the whoops and doglegs in the bow or try to straighen it laterally?

Dimensions for layout of HHB would maybe help me.

[Skeaterbait]

Whoa now, easy there. Never toss a stave. As you grow in your abilities and confidence you may find this to be an exhilerating challenge later.

[tom sawyer]

Looks like there's a blank running right down the middle of that stave.

You can try and straighten it, doglegs tend to be corrected better than whoops.  I'd get it down to near dimensions before doing any straightening.

I am pretty picky when it comes to wood, I don't see a bow in every stave.  Some pieces are meant for the fireplace or the smoker.

[Easternarcher]

Whoa now, easy there. Never toss a stave. As you grow in your abilities and confidence you may find this to be an exhilerating challenge later.

This was the other side before the split.....

[tom sawyer]

Maybe a pair of billets from the clean end, if they don't warp in drying.

[Easternarcher]

Maybe a pair of billets from the clean end, if they don't warp in drying.

No worries about drying....this thing sat in a barn for the past 3-4 years.
Well now, I did not consider cutting it up for billets!

See, we all learn something new and see things thru other bowyer's eyes...it's great!