Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: StevenT on September 14, 2009, 06:59:18 pm
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As I was coming hoom today, I notice a neighbor cut down a persimmon tree about 6 to 8 inches across. How does persimmon wood work for bow making?
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I have made a few bows from it and it makes a decent bow.. Treat it like a white wood.. ;)
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I've never personally made a persimmon bow; however, the one's I've seen were absolutely beautiful. I think they're somewhat weak in tension and are safer with a rawhide backing. I think they have good compression strength. I would go for it.
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I've never tried persimmon but would if I could find an untwisted piece. ::) If it splits straight, yes, it will make a good bow. Other advice above sounds good to me.
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Pat, that stave I gave you ain't twisted more than 45 degrees or so....;D I've still got its sister, I'll at-tackt it with a heat gun and pipe wrench one of these days.
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persimmon
now theres one i havent aquired as of yet
would like to give it a try someday
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IV MADE A COUPLE TREAT IT LIKE WHITE WOOD MAKE UR LIMBS WIDE FINISHES OUT VERY PRETTY AND IF I EVER MAKE ANOTHER I WILL DEFINTALY HEAT TREAT IT
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Sailordad,
Are you going to the 2nd NC knappin by chance?
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Twisted limbs makes some very nice ones... the wood is very pretty too.
Good Luck
Mike
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My neighbor cut the trunk before I got back to him, so I wound up with two pieces. The bottom piece is about 7 to 8 inches wide, but it is only about 54 inches long. The other piece is about 4 inches across at the narrow end but is over 6 ft long. They both look pretty straight to me.
I have been reading everyones post since joining a few weeks ago and I think at some point after I learn more about knapping I would like to give making a bow a try. I don't know squat about making a bow except what I have read here, so I may be biting off more than I can chew.
So, what do you think of these two pieces of wood? Is the larger piece too short? I would like to do the right thing with them to get them drying out. Should I take the bark off? I am going to clean the limbs off and clean up the ends. Also, I have read about sealing the ends, I think to prevent splitting. What should I use to seal the ends? If I take the bark off, do I seal the whole thing?
Thanks
Steven
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Those limbs will cause you trouble! If they were clear wood with no limbs I'd say go for it...but with the limbs I'd say...golf club heads! ;D
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Yeah, you don't want to go messing with a piece of wood that has a bunch of limbs sticking out of it, especially if you haven't made a bow before (or even if you have for that matter.) What you need is a straight, clean piece of trunk taken from below the first limbs.
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Steven, are you coming to the NC Knap-in? If you are I'll bring you a bow stave.
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You might get billets out of the top log.
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Bummer. I was sure hoping I had some good pieces of wood. :'( Well, I learned my first thing, stay away from branches. Thanks for saving me a headache or two.
Hillbilly,
Yes, I'm coming to the NC knap-in. I will be there all three days. I would be most grateful for the stave. Heck, do you need a piece of persimmon.. I just happen to have a couple pieces that will be in the truck. ;D
I plan to learn everything I can about bowmaking that you guys will be showing. As I said somewhere else, this will be my first and I am really looking forward to it. See you Friday.
Steven
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STEVEN HOW LONG IS THE BIG PIECE FROM THE END TO THE FIRST BRANCH ? IM WONDERIN IF YA MIGHT HAVE ENOUGH TO CUT IT OFF THEN SPLIT IT THEN LATER SPLICE IT ?? MAYBE UD HAVE ENOUGH FOR A STAVE THEN HAHA JUST A THOUGHT IF YA DONT WANNA WASTE IT AND HAVE UR HEART SET ON IT HA BROCK