Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: primate on March 23, 2009, 01:36:42 pm

Title: cedar curing
Post by: primate on March 23, 2009, 01:36:42 pm

im new here and i have a few questions. i will tell u that i have made a few bows all of hickory and they have turned out quite nice. but i have the itch to make a western style bow from cedar. my question is how lon to dry out and which part to use. my hickory bows i take to almost floor tiller and thentie down to dry usually about a month or less. i cut a cedar two days ago ad split it. thats all ive done. should i take it to bow shape or what. can anyone help.

Title: Re: cedar curing
Post by: Pat B on March 23, 2009, 01:43:52 pm

First off, what cedar are you using. Eastern Red Cedar(Juniperus virginiana) will dry relatively quick, lots quicker than hickory.IMO

Title: Re: cedar curing
Post by: primate on March 23, 2009, 01:50:13 pm

eastern red cedar i live in waxhaw nc

Title: Re: cedar curing
Post by: Pat B on March 23, 2009, 01:53:30 pm

You can make a bow from the sapwood, sapwood/heartwood combo or just the heartwood but I would back the all heartwood bow. Hickory makes an excellent backing for ERC.

Title: Re: cedar curing
Post by: primate on March 23, 2009, 01:56:25 pm

i plan on sinewing this bow can i stiill use all sapwood or shourd i just use heartwood.

Title: Re: cedar curing
Post by: Pat B on March 23, 2009, 05:08:16 pm

I believe you can use either but not both. ???   I have heard sinew will pull the sapwood off of the heartwood. I don't know this as a fact!...but I do have a 49" ERC sap/heart stave I want to sinew. When I get around to it, I'll let you know how it works. In the mean time, when you're done with yours, I want to know how it went.  ;)

Title: Re: cedar curing
Post by: primate on March 23, 2009, 06:51:46 pm

i think ill try it both ways. you can only learn by doing. thanks

Title: Re: cedar curing
Post by: ricktrojanowski on March 23, 2009, 08:57:03 pm

Primate-
I just finished sinewing an all heartwood ERC.  I chased it down to a single ring, then sinewed.  I did two layers, than let that dry, followed by two more layers.  Before I had a chance to wrap the tips. (While the first two layers dried)  The sinew had pulled up with one ring of wood for about 4" on one limb.  So I would recommend wrapping you tips right away.

Title: Re: cedar curing
Post by: primate on March 23, 2009, 09:07:29 pm

thanks good advice ill remember it

Title: Re: cedar curing
Post by: primate on March 23, 2009, 09:18:40 pm

anyone care to tell me how many courses of sinew i should use. and is leg better than back for this type of bow. how many legs/backs? thanks

Title: Re: cedar curing
Post by: ricktrojanowski on March 23, 2009, 11:17:49 pm

The stave I sinewed was 58" long and 1 7/8" wide at mid limb.  I used 3 layers over the whole back and one layer crowning the back using backstrap sinew.  I've read that some prefer leg over backstrap, but I've also read the opposite.  So I would use whatever you can get.  I think it took me about 7- 8 backstrap.  I didn't really keep track and I have some processed stuff left over.