Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: paulsemp on January 26, 2012, 07:46:23 am

Title: who's worked red elm?
Post by: paulsemp on January 26, 2012, 07:46:23 am

i have a straight, 55"long, 2.5" x 2.5" stave with a 1/2" of sapwood. I would like design ideas from you guys. do you leave all the sapwood on or take a few rings off so the heart wood does not run off?

Title: Re: who's worked red elm?
Post by: Pappy on January 26, 2012, 08:22:15 am

Most elm bows are made from sap wood,just peal the bark and you have your bow back. :)
   Pappy

Title: Re: who's worked red elm?
Post by: crooketarrow on January 26, 2012, 09:26:53 am

  I've made bows all sap wood as well as all heart wood and some both. They all made good bows.

Title: Re: who's worked red elm?
Post by: Pat B on January 26, 2012, 11:27:10 am

As the others said use the sapwood under the bark! 
  This is a red elm static recurve I built last winter. 60"t/t and pulled to 28". The handle does give a bit at full draw too.   55" is quite short. I'd make a bend through the handle style bow with a 55" stave.
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/TGtradebowelm001-2.jpg)

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/TGtradebowelm002-2.jpg)

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/TGtradebowelm004g.jpg)

Title: Re: who's worked red elm?
Post by: paulsemp on January 26, 2012, 02:36:27 pm

i agree pat 55 is a little short, and i was planning a full working handle. thanks for the input, i will leave the sap wood as is and let the heartwood run off. by the way pat what kind of backing is on that bow? i like it!

Title: Re: who's worked red elm?
Post by: osage outlaw on January 26, 2012, 03:28:59 pm

Giraffe snake  ;D

Title: Re: who's worked red elm?
Post by: Pat B on January 26, 2012, 04:04:08 pm

Paul, it is animal print tissue paper. Comes in giraffe, zebra, tiger, lepoard and a few other patterns that are too big for a bow backing.  It is strictly decorative. The tissue paper is so thin it will tear easily as soon as it touches the wet glue.
 I did a considerable amount of tempering on this bow. I heat straightened and heat bent the curves using  a heat gun and oil but after she was almost tillered I did a good dry tempering. You can see the darkness on the belly. That is what remained after finish tillering and sanding.

Title: Re: who's worked red elm?
Post by: paulsemp on January 26, 2012, 04:39:52 pm

thanks pat

Title: Re: who's worked red elm?
Post by: Josh B on January 27, 2012, 04:00:15 am

Here's one I made for my nephew.  69" ntn 45#@29".  I just debarked it and used the sapwood for the back.  It has a pretty severe character knot in the upper limb so I had to leave that part pretty stiff.  It ended up being half sapwood  and half heartwood.  Wish I had a good pic that showed the contrast.  Josh   

Title: Re: who's worked red elm?
Post by: paulsemp on January 27, 2012, 08:18:04 am

thanks gun doc, i was wondering about the heart wood run off. bow looks great!!!