Hey everyone!
I've have had some black oak seasoning 2010. I was a half log that was so beauty and had so much possibility that I just could not bring myself to split it into staves. I'd pass it anytime id go into my bed room often forgetting that it was there. but every few weeks or months id start staring at it again. Reading all the knots and fine lines in the bark ( I left the bark on it the whole time)
I'd think this would easily make three good staves. This one a holmegaard, this one a pyramid, this one....No no you should make some plain longbows but show off all your combined knowledge and experience and really make the lord of bows. Then I'd change my mind and get scared. I'd say it probably would split the wrong way and that I would at least ruin one of the the 3 or even 4 possible staves. I'm sure a lot of you all have some wood like this.
Well finally I just gritted my teeth hard and pulled out my machetti. I figured for such an occasion I'd need to do something special. So I cut my arm and bled on the blade and the wood. I don't know what it was supposed to do but whatever, it made me feel better about the process. I put the wood on the bench and smacked the machetti into the end of the stave I ended up splitting out three awesome staves. I was surprised to see how this wood changed after 7 years. It isn't the normal medium quality wood, that lets a chisel or drawknife slide into it as well. Now the blade has to show respect to the wood. Its harder, tougher, and smells much sweeter. I've chosen to make the first into one of my absolute favorite designs, the Powhatan longbow from volume 1 of whichever encyclopedia of native bows. I think that the original was made of mulberry, and so the stresses are different. So the cross section should meet the demand. The the original has a rounded belly and curved back.
The stave is 5" longer then the Powhatan's dimensions. I've chosen to rough it out that way. It means I can make a heavier bow too.
So after all those words, my question to you fine gentlemen would be what would the best cross section be for Black oak.
