Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Marc St Louis on September 07, 2010, 04:32:08 pm
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There was a question here about using dead wood for making bows not to long ago. Bows can be made out of long dead, rot resistant wood such as Osage or BL or Yew but the white-woods decay pretty fast. Still, sometimes you can find a tree that has been dead standing or broken and hung up and as long as the bark comes off quickly it will stay in fairly good condition for awhile. I came across a tree like that about 15 years ago while driving down an old bush road. It had been blown over across the road and I had to get out of my truck to cut it out of the way. As I was cutting it is when I noticed that it was an Ironwood and that it didn't look in too bad a shape. Most of the bark was gone but the wood was hard. Now as I was out there to get some bow wood anyway I figured I would just cut a log out and throw it in my truck to bring back home. Most of the wood had some white streaks in it where rot had set in but I did get one stave that was good. You can see that my bow making has changed a bit over the years.
At 63" long the bow is a bit on the short side and there was some character to it but it held together. It pulls about 45# @ 28". I had to scrounge around for a string for the braced and full draw but found a FF string that fit. Here's the bow
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Cool Bow Marc. I think it looks great. :) ...you said you cut it 15 years ago how long did you season the wood before you finished it?
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Josh
It's a long time ago but I think I made a bow out of the wood inside of a month. It was quite dry when I cut it, probably at least 2 or 3 years dead from the condition of the tree
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Hey Marc, gorgeous bow, especially the handle. How did you make that handle? Is it rawhide wrapped in a spiral?
Thanks,
Doug
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Doug
It's a leather wrap. Here's a closeup
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In any case the reason for this post is to let you guys know not to discount a tree just because it's dead. Examine it carefully and even make a cut into it. If it's still good you will get some good hard chips as you cut.
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Thanks for the closeup Marc. That gives me an idea...
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Thanks for the info Marc. It is good to know that sound wood can be found in dead standing trees if you know what to look for. :)
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Nice story, I like the whole objet trouve thing with wood, some time nature just gives us that helping hand.
One of my fave bows was a pick up off the woodland floor find.
Del
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Nice bow Marc and a good save with the wood! This bow is a bit different from all the other bows of yours I've seen.
I'd bet that same tree would have been fully rotted if it were down here in the south. Hanging up in the tree and being in dried conditions is what kept it viable, I'm sure.
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That's interesting. I wonder what wood's would remain very long around here in SW Florida...
Gotta be something.
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Lignum vite, maybe! ;D
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Yes Pat, the bows I made back then were just a tiny bit different :). Still from what I remember it shot reasonably well and would easily have taken a Deer. Another year and it wouldn't have been any good except for firewood.
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From the looks of the unbraced pic, I am amazed it is possible to get a full draw that pretty from the same stick, you have skills sir.