Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Onebowonder on September 21, 2012, 12:59:58 pm
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For sometime now I have been on a quest to find a straight(er) grained long piece of ERC. It grows around here, (the Missouri Ozarks), in weed-like abundance, but most of it is VERY twisted up with loads of knots and branches.
Well, I've found what I think is a beautiful piece of wood. The pix I took earlier didn't come out well enough to use, but I'll take some better ones and post them later tonight.
What I am needing to know is how to prep this log prior to putting it up to dry and how to eventually turn it into blanks from which to build a few bows. Straight running pieces of this wood are pretty rare, so I don't want to screw up this one.
1] Do I need to split the log into staves with mauls and wedges prior to putting it up or leave round till it's dry? If I do split it up prior to drying, do I need to take any particular precautions to keep it from warping up into curly Q's as it drys?
2] All ERC has knots, so I wonder if I am better to mill this wood into quartersawn stave blanks or to try and follow the grain by splitting it instead?
3] ERC is resistent to bugs and rot naturally, so I don't know if I need to put insecticide on it or not? I guess it can't hurt...
4] Do I need to seal the ends of the log with Elmer's or latex paint like I was directed to with my hardwood logs some years back? ...or is ERC different on that point?
5] Any other tricks or pointers, especially those specific to this wood species, that you have learned through experience?
I am pretty excited to have the chance to work with this log, but I really want to get it right the first time. I'm counting on the collective expertise of the guys on this forum to help me!
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I like to seal with Elmers white glue. I like to split after I cut it, at least into quarters. I suggest spraying with insecticide or peeling the bark as soon as possible. On any that I have left the bark the powder post beetles really get into it. I have tested this a lot. I cut and peeled several and sealed the back and the ends with Elmers white glue. I have also used shellac to seal the sapwood after peeling the bark. I do this when I know I will take the sapwood down to thin it out some. I have cut, split and sealed the ends and not peeled the bark. On those I have had the bugs get into them. They only peel good during the growing season. If I have left the bark on I spray them with insecticide and have had no problem with bugs. It can warp some if the stave is very narrow. With a larger stave it usually wont warp to much.