Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: jonathan creason on July 22, 2010, 09:46:54 am
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Well, I think I may have my brother-in-law hooked. He called yesterday and said he spotted a couple of trees that were knocked down in a storm last week that might work for bow staves. Turns out it was Black Locust and Persimmon, so I told him to get them if he could. Problem is, they've already been down for a week. He's planning on cutting them this weekend, but said he'd like to wait until I can help him split them. Since I'm heading to Pat's Saturday, that's out, and we're taking our youth group to the beach next weekend. How long can the log sit before rot and fungus starts to set in? He said the tree boles looked pretty straight, so I'd hate to see some good bow wood go to waste.
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Depending on the conditions (how wet has it been, have the trees been sitting in a puddle, etc.) a week shouldn't be much of a problem IMO. Others will probably disagree though.
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I would split it as soon as Possible...the BL...should be no Problem for that little time...it's more bug resistant than Persimmon...but I would split it soon...or you could always put it up after you spray it with a Fungicide...and Borax...to keep molds and bugs from starting their natural routine
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The locust will last durn near forever, but the persimmon won't. A week shouldn't be a problem.
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Thanks guys. From what he said there's still some root in the ground on both and the leaves are still green. I'm guessing the crown in probably keeping the boles from each tree off the ground, so hopefully that helps some.
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Seal the ends with glue, poly before the tree hits the ground. Bring the log inside in a cool place and let it settle for a week. Then split it into staves. I always left the bark on. You can take it off but if you do seal it. You an also remove the sapwood but seal the back. Jawge
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If they still have green leaves on them, they'll be fine and dandy until they don't.
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Cool deal, thanks Jawge and Hillbilly. Hopefully we'll have some good wood before too long.
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Well this is my first post. I'm the bro n law in question. Going after the wood in the morning. The wood is still green. It's still attached to the stump and the roots (well part of em) are still in the ground on all wood in question. I don't know a lot about this right now, but I figure if a week and a half in 90-100F temps hadn't wilted it by now, the trees are still alive. The straight parts are indeed off of the ground. As Jonathan said, the crown has the trunk supported on both the locust and the persimmons. I can try to get it split this weekend. I just don't want to mess it up, especially the persimmon, it's not as easily available. Hopefully by the time it's dry enough to work, I'll know enough to build a bow and only mess half a dozen up before I get one that shoots. :D
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If the Foliage is still green and not wilting...take your time...and cut it when you are ready.... it will be fine...go have fun at PatB's Party...ans wish Him a Happy Birthday from me too... ;)
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I need to go ahead and cut it. The locust is in the edge of a guys yard and was the next victim of his chainsaw before I got a hold of him and asked him if I could have it. The persimmon is right on the side of the road. Surprised NCDOT hasn't laid claim to it yet. I think the only reason they haven't is because it's in a yard as well. Looking forward to getting it and seeing what kind of bow making goodness I end up with.
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I never cut persimmon. In fact, I had a hard time spelling it. LOL. My remarks were for BL. Jawge
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I'd split it as soon as it's cut down, as long as the staves will be 4-6" wide. Otherwise, they may twist. Skinny staves can twist as they dry, so with small logs, I'd just split them in half.
More on drying wood: http://analogperiphery.blogspot.com/2008/08/drying-and-seasoning-wood.html
Hope it helps.
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Well I left the persimmon. 3 trunks, 2 were clean but had some knots and the other was slam bam thank ya ma'am full of poison ivy. So I just left them where they are. As for the locust. It's a nice log, or so I thought, until I got it cut and it rolled and theres a biiiig dry knot in it >:(. Hopefully it's big enough to work around, but certainly not going to get what I thought we'd get from it.
As for splitting it. Not happening today!!! We cut the whole tree up and had brushed cleared, and rest of it sawed up in firewood and loaded by 10:00am. Well then came time to cut the main trunk that I wanted for staves off of the stump. took us til 12:00 to load it on the trailer back up to it
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Consider it "Basic Training" before you can become a bow building warrior! Post some pics and let us know how it is coming, and congratulations on starting a new addiction.
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Hopefully I can get J.C. over one day soon to help me split it. What's best to seal it with? Might have something here I can use or I may have to go to Lowes to get something. New to the game and always on the look out now for potential bow wood.
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A big bottle of Titebond II or III is handy to have around the house for lotsa projects. Two or three coats of that will treat the ends quickly enough. Thin it slightly and use a paintbrush to cover the back of the bow if you elect to remove the bark, again two coats will be fine. For that matter, the second coat is really there to hit any spot that might have been missed on the first coat.
Losta guys use lotsa other stuff including latex paint (used that myself with great results), Beeswax, lacquer, tar, rubber cement, and more.
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Well got a can of shellac today from Lowes. Any last minute suggestions? Barring a driving rain and lightening I'm going to split it this afternoon. Should I remove the sapwood or leave it until it is dry? Tree seems big enough to get "inner staves" as well. How should I handle them ? Wish I had a pic to post. It's a pretty good sized tree.
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On second thought, I can't remember how thick the heart wood is, and if I take the xylem off, the heart may not be thick enough for two staves all the way around.
Ok if I take the bark off and leave the sapwood, seal where the bark was and the ends? and if I take the sapwood off, seal the side the sapwood was on and the ends?
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Rain got me today. Should be on for tomorrow though good Lord willing. :-\