Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: KShip85 on February 08, 2010, 04:44:23 pm

Title: Ka-boom!
Post by: KShip85 on February 08, 2010, 04:44:23 pm
Well,  had this piece of cedar sapwood roughed out and tapered down for a long bow.  Backed it with some canvas material and put on some temporary nocks to see how it was bending.  Pulled it back maybe 16 inches and POW!  Sounded like a .22 pistol going off next to my ear.  Nose is just a touch sore as some part of the limb smacked me right on the tip of the bone.  I had some doubts from the start with this one.  The back had some odd small valleys all over the back.  Anyway thus passes another cedar bow.

Kip

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/kshipley85/1265658133.jpg)
Title: Re: Ka-boom!
Post by: ken75 on February 08, 2010, 04:48:23 pm
sorry bout your loss , cedar is a lil tough to make a bow from , not much room for error
Title: Re: Ka-boom!
Post by: KShip85 on February 08, 2010, 04:59:28 pm
I think I will stick to wide flat limbs when working with this stuff and also invest in some rawhide for backing.

Kip
Title: Re: Ka-boom!
Post by: Pat B on February 08, 2010, 05:17:49 pm
...but when cedar blows, IT BLOWS!!! :o  Too bad! Now get back up and start another one. ;)
Title: Re: Ka-boom!
Post by: KShip85 on February 08, 2010, 05:52:34 pm
You ain't kidding Pat.  If I keep this up I am going to start wearing a face shield when working with some iffy cedar pieces! 

Kip
Title: Re: Ka-boom!
Post by: orcbow on February 08, 2010, 06:25:44 pm
Kip - sorry to see another one blow-up! But I know you are not about to give up.....!
Title: Re: Ka-boom!
Post by: Grunt on February 08, 2010, 08:13:58 pm
If you aren't breaking one every now and then you aren't making bows. Keep at it. Hope you are wearing safety glasses.
Title: Re: Ka-boom!
Post by: Ryano on February 08, 2010, 09:03:55 pm
That's why I leave the cedar bows to ya'll....... ::)
Title: Re: Ka-boom!
Post by: Lombard on February 08, 2010, 10:12:34 pm
The more I hear about cedar, the more I'm thinking the ERC that I have drying might be better used as walking sticks. Or perhaps a decorative bow to hang on the wall at camp.
Title: Re: Ka-boom!
Post by: OldBow on February 08, 2010, 10:18:42 pm
The more I hear about cedar, the more I'm thinking the ERC that I have drying might be better used as walking sticks. Or perhaps a decorative bow to hang on the wall at camp.


No, no, no - to both you and Ryan - we have seen beautiful ERC bows here.
Title: Re: Ka-boom!
Post by: mullet on February 08, 2010, 10:19:51 pm
 There have been some fine bows on here in the past made from cedar. But it is cool when it blows. ;D
Title: Re: Ka-boom!
Post by: ricktrojanowski on February 08, 2010, 11:06:38 pm
Sorry to see that.  I just blew a sinew backed ERC.  I'm thinking my other ERC stave will be made into hearth boards as DanaM suggested.
Title: Re: Ka-boom!
Post by: KShip85 on February 08, 2010, 11:22:27 pm
The more I hear about cedar, the more I'm thinking the ERC that I have drying might be better used as walking sticks. Or perhaps a decorative bow to hang on the wall at camp.


No, no, no - to both you and Ryan - we have seen beautiful ERC bows here.

Yeah guys, I LOVE cedar.  Check on one of my recent posts and you will see a cedar bow that held up for me.  When it holds in makes a beautiful bow that can really have some zip to it.  I have heard of people to do it without backing them but from my short time with it I would recomend using something.  I heard rawhide works well and sinew on shorter ones.  The one that survived for me so far is 61 1/2" 75# at 27 inches, and it zips an arrow pretty good.  

I got to thinking about it some more and I believe that it got too dry.  After backing it I set it in the back of the shop not really thinking about the fact that with the stove going the temp is over 80 with 30% humidity.  I've heard that cedar dries fairly quickly anyway.  Oh well, live and learn!

Kip
Title: Re: Ka-boom!
Post by: Pat B on February 09, 2010, 01:57:55 am
A guy came to my camp-o-rama two years ago with an all sapwood ERC, ELB style bow that shot very nicely. I was amazed.
Title: Re: Ka-boom!
Post by: KShip85 on February 09, 2010, 02:13:09 am
A guy came to my camp-o-rama two years ago with an all sapwood ERC, ELB style bow that shot very nicely. I was amazed.

Was it backed with anything?

Kip