Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: sailordad on January 13, 2009, 11:00:34 pm

Title: cambium removal
Post by: sailordad on January 13, 2009, 11:00:34 pm: hi everyone ;D

i got this really nice hick stave from one of the nice folks on here,thanks again.

i really like the texture of the back of hick self bows and i do like the looks of the cambium on it also.
however this stave has some really thick spots that fill in the mice little gullies on the back.
i spent about an hour and half on it tonight trying to reduce the amount of cambium. i have been using a pocket knife so that i could get into the gullies some what.
this is goinf to take a month of sundays doing like this.
so my question to all of you are " is there an easier way to remove the cambium"

thanks for the input and here are a couple of pics
(http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/8849/1000075tu5.jpg)

(http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/5889/1000076cg9.jpg)
Title: Re: cambium removal
Post by: Coo-wah-chobee on January 13, 2009, 11:24:35 pm: Soak it inhot water er put it in the shower. Thats ifn ya gonna dry it out again. Otherwise toast the camb carefully over a fire and scrape. The key word here is CAREFULLY. Good luck...............bob
Title: Re: cambium removal
Post by: sailordad on January 13, 2009, 11:30:29 pm: thanks bob,
i think since its -20* tonight and a high of -4* tomorrow and 2.5 ft of snow on the ground i will go with the shower method.
the wife will think i am nuts when she sees me take that in there with me tomorrow :o

i'm thinking it probably wont take real long in this dry air here for it to dry again,but just to be safe i will put it in the hot box for a few days afterwards.

thanks again

peace,
tim
Title: Re: cambium removal
Post by: Pat B on January 14, 2009, 01:13:13 am: cut hickory during the growing season! ;D
Title: Re: cambium removal
Post by: AKAPK on January 14, 2009, 03:46:31 am: I just used a flake of Obsidean ,It only took a half hour,I didn't push down to hard . I also dampened a sponge and rubbed a bit didn't want to saturate my hickory Holmy
I notice that scraping in both directions shreds the cambium faster, then I used the scrubber lighly on the back of the sponge after the sponge was dry. of coarse I did leave a little Cambium. :)

[attachment deleted by admin]
Title: Re: cambium removal
Post by: El Destructo on January 14, 2009, 08:07:15 am: It don't bother Me....thats why I don't always take the Bark off....I like the Cambium....plus I am lazy....it's easier to spray them for Bugs....and peel em when you need em!! Only thing I try to strip Bark on is Locust and Hedge....and I get lazy there too...... ::)
Title: Re: cambium removal
Post by: GregB on January 14, 2009, 08:20:41 am: Some rougher sand paper folded and using the edges should get into those recessed area's...
Title: Re: cambium removal
Post by: John B. on January 14, 2009, 10:33:45 am: I think it looks great just the way it is. 8)

And in my book, Hickory and water don't mix. I'd never put a Hickory stave in the shower. YMMV.
Title: Re: cambium removal
Post by: Dave 55 on January 14, 2009, 10:44:45 am: You are about right on the month of Sundays,I took mine down with a draw knife and piece of glass and ended up going down to the 2nd ring in one spot,would have been better of leaving some of the cadmium.
Title: Re: cambium removal
Post by: DanaM on January 14, 2009, 01:00:21 pm: Tim all I ever use some 150 grat sandpaper and a dullish scrapper.
Hope that stave works out for ya, yell when you want to try a hard maple eh ;)
Title: Re: cambium removal
Post by: TRACY on January 14, 2009, 01:18:36 pm: I use the small end of the goose neck scraper if I've got one w/ a few valleys on the back. I generally like the camo effect of the partially removed cambium layer like AKAPK has shown.

Tracy
Title: Re: cambium removal
Post by: Dean Marlow on January 14, 2009, 01:32:21 pm: I like the looks of it the way it is. Before I would take a chance and cut a ring I would leave it like it is. Dean
Title: Re: cambium removal
Post by: Hillbilly on January 14, 2009, 01:44:40 pm: As hard as it is to get hickory dry, the last thing I would do is soak it in water. It usually scrapes off fairly easily for me.