Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Mark Anderson on July 02, 2010, 01:57:04 pm

Title: Quarter split stave
Post by: Mark Anderson on July 02, 2010, 01:57:04 pm
Ok I have had about twenty bow worth of walnut staves drying for around a year and a half. Made the mistake of not getting the bark off soon enough and now they are all riddled with bug holes down about three rings from the bark. So I get this idea that if I can use the split side as the back of the bow I may be able to just scrape down the high spots and have a quarter "split" stave that follows the natural grain without sawing and planing the back.
Let me know what you all think, I dont know if it has been done like this, at least I've never knowingly seen it.

I might try a build along with this.
Mark




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Title: Re: Quarter split stave
Post by: Del the cat on July 02, 2010, 02:29:44 pm
That's handsome wood.
I guess you are effectively making your own quarter sawn boards and making board bows... I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work.
Never done it myself tho'.
The bugs in the UK are much better behaved ;D.
Del
Title: Re: Quarter split stave
Post by: RidgeRunner on July 02, 2010, 02:34:33 pm
It has been done.
Half Eye does it all the time.
Never done it myself.
I would put some kind of cloth backing on a quarter sawn walnut bow.

David
Title: Re: Quarter split stave
Post by: jthompson1995 on July 02, 2010, 02:47:01 pm
That will be a gorgeous bow if it works out. I would be careful of a density difference between the sapwod and heartwood that may cause isses with tillering.
Title: Re: Quarter split stave
Post by: KenH on July 02, 2010, 03:09:06 pm
As RidgeRunner said,  Half Eye does that in preference to any other way of cutting up logs; and makes some of the most fabulous bows that way!  See his article on pg 36 of the Jun/Jul iss of PA. 
Title: Re: Quarter split stave
Post by: ken75 on July 02, 2010, 11:26:33 pm
comm. ive built about 8 bows using that method it works great , havent done it with black walnut but i have built 3 quartersawn unbacked black walnut board bows keep em wide and round the edges good shouldnt have any problems.
Title: Re: Quarter split stave
Post by: Mark Anderson on July 05, 2010, 08:18:52 pm
Ok I knew Rich used quarter-sawn boards But I didn't know he split them. Good to know, I will proceed (and would have anyway)!
I'll probably back it with rawhide.
Mark