Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Hrothgar on December 31, 2010, 07:15:38 pm
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I just wanted to share a couple of pics of this red mulberry stave I cut and split in late September. It was slightly curved when cut, but has reflexed a lot as it dried. Stave length is 68" The tips are 5 1/4 " higher than the center plane.
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Awesome. I once had a osage stave like that one. Broke it, I think just from having so much stress on the back from being reflexed. Or it could of just been poor workmanship on my part. Awesome stave though.
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Wow, That should be fun ;D
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They say red mulberry makes a good bow. Maybe should have debarked it so it might not have reflexed so much.
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looks like its already at brace height :o
how muh relfex is that? looks to be about 6" or so
might have to take some out of it just so yo dont come in way under weightt
that much heavy reflex could be realy fooling tryin to tell when to brace it
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Starting out with that much reflex can be detrimental to the bow and to you. First off that stave needs to be evened out quite a bit. After finding a back ring I would put an even reflex of about 3" in it and go from there.
Take the bark and sapwood off and see what ya got! ;)
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good luck with that and keep us posted on your progress.
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Pat, you are making it sound like work! I wonder if I could shorten this several inches and attempt a hungarian-style selfbow?
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You could remove wood from the right end and get a more even bend...but that much reflex is difficult to work with.IMO The first thing you need to do is remove the bark and sapwood(unless you intended to use the sapwood too). This way you can see what you have to work with. If you cut it off before exposing your back ring you might be surprised with what is under the bark and sometimes that is not good.
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What ever you do with that bit of wood I know it will make interesting reading! Should have an interesting early draw weight.
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I have limited experience with staves but if it was me I would cut it into billets and splice in deflex at the handle and make me a Marc St. louis jobbie ;D
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a single layer or sinew will help break the bow in while tillering. a know from experience that, that much reflex will most likely explode for no apparent reason. dont overly rehydrate the sinew before you put it on, u don't need anymore reflex. just wet it down and lay it on. once the bow is tillered most of the way you can most likely remove it or leave it on as you wish.