Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: bowkee on February 19, 2010, 03:21:55 pm

Title: Japanese soft maple
Post by: bowkee on February 19, 2010, 03:21:55 pm
Tillering this Soft maple Break down, got it at 20 @ 15 now trying for 20@20.
the bow is 47"NTN and 1/3/8 at the handle fade. 1/2" tips I put the taper at 8" from the tips.
The problem is I'm a bit unsure about using soft maple for a Bow.
on an other issue I was revamping my photos on the site a few months back and discovered my disc with all my Bow picks was scratched beyond repair. To make a long story short I deleted the photos before discovering the ruined disc so intern I did not get to re-post all the photos so in frustration I closed my account. maybe someone has copies of all those bows, if not a ll I have is Memory and no reference to my Bows. Sorry about that. Phillip

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Title: Re: Japanese soft maple
Post by: michbowguy on February 19, 2010, 03:27:17 pm
...i love the pic.
"sorry honey, we dont have room for a coffe table for the phone, MY TILLERING TREE is taking up that space! ;D ;D
Title: Re: Japanese soft maple
Post by: Badger on February 19, 2010, 03:36:13 pm
Philip, soft maple will make a bow but not the best choice you could make. At 1 3/8 wide and 20# at 20" I would say you are getting close to maxing it out. proably not more than 25# at 22". You could give it a tad more bend near the fades. Steve
Title: Re: Japanese soft maple
Post by: Ryano on February 19, 2010, 04:34:33 pm
Phil, PK I asume?  ;D Use the search funtion if you posted pictures of your bows here using our website there should still be copys of the pictures in the threads.  I've used soft maple for a core wood in tri lams and it works fine but I've never tried it as a self bow. No reason to with all the hard woods we have access to hear in PA.
Title: Re: Japanese soft maple
Post by: bowkee on February 19, 2010, 07:33:54 pm
Thanks,  wood off the fades and the should get me to 18 or 20.
forgot to mention I backed the bow with silk.
using what wood I got for Atlatls thought I would give it a try.
been making the drums for the last few months and wondering why I was getting the most ignorant stupid sending me messages on this great Bowyers forum, another reason I closed out.

Ryan, I deleted the post photos so I could re-post better pics then discovered my discs were scratched beyond reading,
Had some heavy things land on them after our 6.5 Quake.

cordless phone #2 on the floor charging yuk yuk , nice primitives ya been getting done bowguy
 
Title: Re: Japanese soft maple
Post by: bowkee on February 19, 2010, 07:36:13 pm
...i love the pic.
"sorry honey, we dont have room for a coffe table for the phone, MY TILLERING TREE is taking up that space! ;D ;D
I'm kinda glad I'm not married now, I can put it were ever I want. ;D
Title: Re: Japanese soft maple
Post by: Hillbilly on February 19, 2010, 07:46:18 pm
Phillip, most of the Japanese maple I've seen seems to be really hard and dense, similar to vine maple. Never made a bow from it, but I've cut and pruned a lot of them. I've seen bows made from all kinds of maple, though. Just make the softer maples a little longer/wider, I'd guess. And if someone keeps bothering you with wierd PMs on here, let the mods/admins know and we'll get it sorted out.
Title: Re: Japanese soft maple
Post by: Badger on February 19, 2010, 08:15:07 pm
Steve, i think you are right about the Japanese maple being hard and dense. Coomonly used for bosai here it usually grows pretty small but is very hard wood. I was thinking of silver maple for some reason. Steve
Title: Re: Japanese soft maple
Post by: bowkee on February 20, 2010, 03:21:25 am
Hillbilly, I should have done that the First time,  :P ??? ::)
The Maple is really soft and does not like heat.
Good for practice until we get over the Crisis.
Got a chance to get some yucalupedus, never tried that for a bow.
Title: Re: Japanese soft maple
Post by: bowkee on March 03, 2010, 06:07:06 pm
This is not a botm Just wanted to see if these soft maple branches would work for Break down snap shooter. Chrystled a little in the beginning tiller but corrected that. Got Silk Backing and some scotch guard and beeswax for a moisture repellent, another experiment.

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Title: Re: Japanese soft maple
Post by: Josh on March 03, 2010, 06:14:32 pm
cool bow man, i love the finish work!   :)
Title: Re: Japanese soft maple
Post by: bowkee on March 03, 2010, 06:22:22 pm
Thanks josh, I really didn't think it would work, soft wood with a cloth backing,????? ???
Title: Re: Japanese soft maple
Post by: HatchA on March 03, 2010, 06:31:10 pm
...i love the pic.
"sorry honey, we dont have room for a coffe table for the phone, MY TILLERING TREE is taking up that space! ;D ;D

Maybe that should reade "... my tillering tree IS the coffee table!! "   :D  hehe

Nice looking bow, man.  Any chance you could show a closer look at the grip/handle area?  That stepped join is messing with my head  ???
Title: Re: Japanese soft maple
Post by: mullet on March 03, 2010, 06:39:06 pm
  Phillip, Like Hillbilly said about the crazy PM's. Just PM me and I can fix you up. ;D When I get home I'll send you some pictures of the bow I got from you.
Title: Re: Japanese soft maple
Post by: DanaM on March 03, 2010, 08:20:43 pm
Cool little bow :)

Hey is bowkee Phillip King, akapk, coolartstick? If so glad ya came back buddy :)
Title: Re: Japanese soft maple
Post by: michbowguy on March 03, 2010, 09:02:35 pm
...yes very cool! 8)
Title: Re: Japanese soft maple
Post by: bowkee on March 03, 2010, 11:28:46 pm
Thanks Guys, I just don't like the tattle tale part.
 Dana, Good to back, missed the Best Bowyers in the world.
 Hatcha,here is a pic of the handle, Joint is 2 pin wrapped with hemp cord recycled from a hemp floor mat.

Thanks Mullet :)

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Title: Re: Japanese soft maple
Post by: bowkee on March 03, 2010, 11:32:13 pm
...yes very cool! 8)
Guy, as yours are also. Phillip
Title: Re: Japanese soft maple
Post by: Hillbilly on March 05, 2010, 11:11:42 am
That turned out nice, Phil. Really cool artwork, too.