Sinewed black cherry

[Eric Krewson]

Now that is some superb craftsmanship!

[Marc St Louis]

Very nice Ed. 

You emailed me with questions about a sinew backed Cherry several years ago.  Was it about this bow?  I warned you at the time that it would likely chrysal even with sinew.  You came back a few months latter saying it had started to chrysal

[BowEd]

Thanks fellas.I appreciate the comments from you all.
Yes.Same bow Marc.I remember that too.Time does fly by....Ha Ha.Around 8 months or a full spring/summer later of shooting it.Shot quite a few arrows through that bow.As in the opening description I sanded the hard finish away and they disappeared.Refinished it with more elastic spar varnish.I've shot it a bunch again and don't see them back yet.They might return.I've decided to just keep shooting it if they do.
The next one will be a test also.

[Parnell]

That does have a great look.  Nice work, Ed.  Your room there looks like a fun place to relax!

[BowEd]

Thanks Parnell.....It's my quiet place and kind of my supply room for finishing bows.Overlays,leather,handle wraps,cordage,finish,different glues etc.The big stuff like staves and forms are out in the tractor shed.

[backtowood B2W]

My first 3 bows I made were cherry. The last survived and still shoots. Really want to have a nice cherry wood again, as my harvests of cherry didn't give me nice staves.
Your bow looks perfect. Unbraced,braced,fd looking excellent!
So glad you share your craftsmanship with us!
Did you taper the sides slightly like a pyramid bow or do they run parallel the first inches?
Is this the original color of the wood or is it stained darker?
Did you change any design parameters for the new one?
Thanks!
B2W

[BowEd]

backtowood B2W......Good to hear from someone else about black cherry.Show a picture of it.This one is kind of in between width taper wise.The one posted starts out 1 and 9/16" at fades.Midlimb is 1 and 1/2".Then about 1" wide ten inches from tip.To 1/2" wide tips thickened along the way for 8" or 9" levers.64" TTT bow.
Prospect starts out wider.A scooch over 1 and 3/4" at fade.1 and 5/8" wide midlimb.To 5/8" wide 6" from tip to 1/2" wide tip.Thickened the last 6".60" TTT.
Overall on both I tried to give them a good 18" - 20" of working limb a piece.
The bow is natural color.No stain.The wood ages color wise nicely.Sapwood darkened a bit over time for some reason.
A recipe for first time success with this wood I would say is to give it plenty of working limb in a non stressful design.A little reflex is OK.
I have 1 more long stave of it dry.Plenty wide.Lop sided thickness of sapwood on that one though.A bit of cambium left on.


If I remember right I did not split that log with wedges as it does'nt split well.I cut it with a band saw and a 3/4" wide 3 tpi blade.I don't know if it will hurt to reduce thickness of sapwood or not from being lop sided sapwood.Maybe you have some experience with that.The rings on it are'nt that fine.It's more difficult stuff to chase a ring on.Think it's diffuse pourus.I'd back it with sinew regardless then.

[Stixnstones]

Beautiful bow....

[WhistlingBadger]

Absolutely beautiful.
T

[BowEd]

Thanks fellas....Made some progress with the prospect bow.It's still alive.
We finally got a nice stretch of dry warmer weather here.Lots of spring work to do around here with the garden/lawn/and pasture.
Gotta start cutting & splitting more firewood too along with any other fix it jobs that come along.Which I can figure it happening.I usually get after that full time till I'm done.

[RyanY]

What a stunner. Really classic style. Great job!

[BowEd]

Thanks Ryan.

[bradsmith2010]

beautiful. congrats,,

[BowEd]

Thanks Brad.
I'm still shooting it and chrysalls have not returned yet.Knowing the insidious nature of chrysalls though that being the damage can be deeper than one can see only time will tell.

[rps3]

Its great to see black cherry being put to use as a bow wood. Great job.