Lumber Red Cedar and Sinew build along

[Robert Pougnier]

I would have loved to harvest ERC in person, which is what got the idea started for me. I'm in SC right now and only have access to staves I brought with me and the lumberyard. This was from the cedar pile and could well be western red cedar. I am not familiar enough with either to tell. This particular board was more purpleish than red/pink, which drew me to it but it could not be ERC. I'll be tillering it around new years (the plan at least) and will update the thread as soon as I do, whether it shoots well or blows up!

[Bob Barnes]

I have my fingers crossed for you.  It's hard to tell ERC from WRC sometimes, and then there's also white cedar.  LOL  I have a log drying of ERC that's about 20" across.  I plan to do what you are with some of it.  Looking forward to seeing your bow.   

[mmattockx]

Cool project!  I’ve never built one like that with the grain run that way.  Mine have all been typical grain found in stave wood.

Quarter sawn wood works great for limbs. Lots of the FG bowyers will only use quarter sawn wood for their limb cores as it stands up better. My last bow was quarter and rift sawn laminations and it had no issues.

Do you have any idea whether it would be best to keep the belly totally flat or trap it very slightly? I haven't touched the belly dimensions yet besides width and there is not much room for mistakes.

Flat is structurally the best to minimize the chances of chrysals or frets. The bow is looking great, I look forward to seeing how it turns out.

I have lots of ERC on my farm

I am deeply jealous. Up here in Western Canada I can't even buy ERC boards like OP, let alone harvest raw lumber from standing trees.


Mark

[Robert Pougnier]

I've temporarily stalled here. The bow is 6 weeks cured and stable, the limbs bend evenly so far, a couple inches at 45# on the floor. But...I've been really busy finishing up other bow projects and dealing with a couple deadlines so I have to delay here a little longer.

I'll try and finish it the next few weeks and post updates whether it breaks or bows. Thanks for all the input!

[mullet]

 I have never built a sinew backed Cedar bow but have made several from a stave. They will make a fast shooting bow. I gave a Bamboo Backed Cedar board bow to an ex, son in law that Brian Melton had made many years ago and it was a great shooting bow.
Thanks for the build along it's a good one.

[Pat B]

ERC has a distinctive smell. It is used as a closet liner to keep moths out. Once you smell it you will remember it.
 Looking at your board I'd say it is Western Red Cedar.

[Robert Pougnier]

ERC has a distinctive smell. It is used as a closet liner to keep moths out. Once you smell it you will remember it.
 Looking at your board I'd say it is Western Red Cedar.

You are right. I've been harvesting small bits of ERC in the area for those quivers and what I have in the build here is definitely Western red cedar. I realize that this changes the potential for it to become a successful bow by a fair margin, so fingers crossed here!

[Bob Barnes]

You are right. I've been harvesting small bits of ERC in the area for those quivers and what I have in the build here is definitely Western red cedar. I realize that this changes the potential for it to become a successful bow by a fair margin, so fingers crossed here!
[/quote]

It does look like western red cedar that we use for cedar fences.  If that's what it is be careful with the grain.  You can split it from end to end very easily as it follows the grain.  It would be bad to have it split at the nocks.  I would definitely put overlays, and maybe even an underlay on the tips. 

[Robert Pougnier]

The tips are wrapped heavy with sinew around, over and below the nock. I was thinking about shrinking a rawhide sock over them too. Hopefully they'll hold up.

[Bob Barnes]

Good to hear it...