Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: tgr on December 29, 2010, 09:11:34 pm
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I have a 72 " maple stave hand split. I took off the outer bark and sealed the ends with glue. THere is an inner layer under the bark. I assume I am taking this off to get to the wood. Is it easier now and will the stave dry faster with this layer removed? THanks ahead for any response. Tom R
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how dry is the stave? i made a elb from maple and after i removed the bark i sanded it off.
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I would assume this is the cambium, I have'nt worked with maple but I know most white woods have a cambium and some of that can be left on for character. Anyone else have a comment, correct me if I'm wrong. Danny
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If it is still green, SEAL THE BACK OF IT BEFORE READING ANY FURTHER!!
If it is already cured, then go ahead and use a scraper/knifeblade to scrape off the cambium.
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The cambium should be pretty thin. Anything thicker than a sheet of paper is last years growth ring.
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It's still green. I'll leave the back as is. I started to take this layer off. Seal it with poly. spreads easier. How long to dry? 4" wide 3" thick, 72" long. I keep it in my basement near a wood burning stove.
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Unless you are not ready to make a bow right now, I would cut it down to bow size, just enough to get some bend in the limbs - floor tiller, leaving the limbs full width (do not taper to nocks yet); then clamp it to a board and place it by your heater. The last time I did this with maple I went from fresh cut sapling to a bow in 4 1/2 weeks.
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I really don't have the time right now. I also have the other 3/4 of the log to do something with. I'll seal the ends and leave the bark on those. Thanks for all the help. TR