Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Parnell on September 03, 2009, 11:21:42 am
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Hi folks,
Here are two Cypress staves (branches) that I've had sittin for 9 months and are dried. They are about 57" long. Smaller has a 3" diameter and larger is about 6". They are oblong, however, with a bit of natural reflex. I'm also going to post a picture of a trunk drying, later. I haven't seen much on here regarding cypress. Anyone able to give me a good heads up on how it performs and what designs may make sense for these staves? Will appreciate any thoughts.
Thanks,
Parnell
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never used it but looks like it would be heck to chase a ring on it, if you have to.
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I've never tried cypress. For me there are better options out there. Let us know how it works out for you. Pat
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all i know is that the top of the branch is the good part. You can tell the top because the off-center pith is closer to the top.
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Out here in LA (lower Alabama) the choctaw's used it. Don't know much about them, but that is a start...
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I've never used it, but you can bet I will if I ever get the chance. Have you ever tugged on a small diameter cypress branch? I guess I should clarify because I don't know how many Cypresses there are. If you tug on a Bald Cypress branch, it seems very springy and stout. Kind of like a hickory branch. It does not surprise me in the least that the LA natives used it. I think Destructo has made cypress bows, you can ask him what design seems best. My guess would be rounded belly, and about 1.25 to 1.5 wide on about a 66" bow. I plan to try BC one day if I can get ahold of some.
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I once used cypress with a hickory backing that was about an 8th of an inch. The bow took a crazy amount of set and was pretty much unshootable. I figure that the hickory was probably too strong in tension compared to the compression strength of the cypress. I hope it works out for you because I know it's a really light wood and should have a good feel in the hand.
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so i have a couple of cypruss boards set aside for bow maing,just need to
find the proper backing material,so this is a good thread
thanks for starting it,mine was back burnerd for now, but who knows
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Bob, (Coowachobee), Makes bows from it. Make it wide and bend in the handle. The Encyclopedia of Native American Bows,Arrows. and Quivers has the demensions for the Seminole bows made from Cypress.
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I have made two bows from cypress boards. I like the wood alot, it is similar to Eastern Red Cedar in some ways. The first bow was wide and flat, I backed it with canvas. It was a short bow (48" long) and was 2 3/8" wide, and 3/8" thick with "pyramid" shaped limbs. It pulled 42# at 20". I sold that one, but took no pictures. The other one was 1" wide and about 48" long, sinew backed, and it failed miserably (I should have known better!)
I think this wood will do nice bows, I'd love to try it again with a long stave. Good luck!
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im actually suprised that anyone makes bows out of the stuff. i have alot of cypress that i use for gun racks, bow racks, quiver bottoms, and other random du-dads cuz i like the way it looks. i have some thats 100 pluss years old salvaged from homes in new orleans that were demolished 20 or 30 years ago. that is some cool stuff.
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I have seen cypress bows in the Smithsonian Museum in DC that were approx. 65-70 inches, wide ( 1.5- 2.0 inches), and rectangular in cross section with diamond tips. the tips tended to be about 1.0" in width.
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I think I've read that swamp cypress is the wood to use and that pond cypress won't do. I don't know how to tell the difference though.Ron
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One grows in the swamp and the other in a pond. Sheesh Ronnie I figured you as a cracker would know that. ;) ::)
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I had a guy tell me when i was down in Al that he had made some bows form cypress, but they had a special method of treating the wood. He said it was like how they do bamboo for flyrods or fishing poles. I want to say that they freeze dried them but im not sure. I hope that helps. Looking forward to seeing your progress. you should do a build along.
Best of Luck
Mike
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Oh yea... almost forgot, the pirates made tresure chests from cypress. So you could do that if your bow didnt work out.
Mike
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Oh yea... almost forgot, the pirates made tresure chests from cypress. So you could do that if your bow didnt work out.
Mike
cypress dont rot. got them hundred pluss year old boards that were never treated and are still fine. thats why they logged the heck out of em down here.
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yeah they log the heck out of them over here to. cypress last a very long time before it rots and decomposes, the seminole made wide d bows out of cypress from 50 inc to 70 inch long, so it must make a pretty good bow.
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One grows in the swamp and the other in a pond. Sheesh Ronnie I figured you as a cracker would know that. ;) ::)
Hmmm Just wait till I think up a come back I'm gonna get you real good.
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Ronnie....You don't have to take that from an Scrawny Ole Grey Bearded Fart like Pat....I know you can Whoop Him............ :P
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Mike
In hind sight he is retaliating for a vicious unwarranted attack by me on the subject of his extreme old age.
Ron
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Mike
In hind sight he is retaliating for a vicious unwarranted attack by me on the subject of his extreme old age.
Ron
LMAOROTFF
>:D
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Thanks for all the thoughts - I'm going to contact the Seminole Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki museum and maybe head over there to see what I can dig up for designs and information.
Once I get something together, I may do a build-a-long like SmokeU suggested. Saw the old link from the traditional Seminole build-along using the carrotwood but there was no finished bow? Oh well...
Keep ya posted.
Thanks,
Parnell
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I know the Miccasukki indian I talked to laughed when I told him the books say they used Cypress.If he
is still alive look him up his name is Buffalo Tiger. He owned a trading post on Tamiami trail in the 90,s.
He was very knowledgeable with the old ways.Bring him some smokes as a gift and don't make a big
deal about it. Also remember indians aren't always as willing to share their info as you'd like, I wouldn't be
either.
I 'm here in florida and happen to like Red Ceder, Elm,and Mulberry I,ve tried alot have some info if you want.
Shoot back at me.
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The cypress in the southeast is different than the stuff out west. It will make bows. But the stuff out west is no good
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For air-dried cypress lumber the rule of thumb is/was 1 year for each year of thickness - ie 2 years of air drying for a 2x4 to be "dry".
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I've still got those staves but haven't done much with them. I've got an Osage that I'm straightening, Bois De Fer to be smoked, and Locust to be roughed out in the workshop along with an order for a board bow to be sent up to Ohio. I imagine that cypress will probably be ok to use later. Don't think it will mind the wait ;).
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Some of the old accounts say cypress was used. I'd say make it as wide as you can (paddle bow?) and test a scrap to see how well it heat treats. How'd your wood run go today? Sorry I missed your visit. Never got the boat out today, had to clear up a registration/license plate discrepancy for the trailer. $$$ at the tax collector later I'm good to go for tomorrow. >:( Could have been worse, they worked with me some.
Swamp
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I looked up the specific gravity of cypress and found it to be the same as eastern red cedar at 47, a little low for bow wood but doable.
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The run went well but that guy is pricey. Got plenty of good looking hickory to fiddle with and make some bows for gifts and a really beautiful rock elm board. Got plenty of material to keep me busy for awhile!
The flintknapping is getting me really hooked these days, though!
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I don't know about eastern cypress but I live in Santa Cruz CA and we have a fair amount of Monterrey Cypress. My buddy tried to make a bow out of it and he was not very pleased about it's performance.