Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: ionicmuffin on September 27, 2012, 02:35:53 pm
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I have here two sets of leaves from two different trees. I am unsure as to what they are. anybody have any ideas?
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Just look up trees that are in your area. For example, here in Canada there is no osage orange. If I were to look at the leaves of one of those trees I would have no clue what I was looking at.
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The leaf to the right looks like Laburnum:
http://www.loenbaek.dk/planter/images/laburnum-alpinum-pendulum3.jpg
Cheers
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dang you nailed the id! does anybody know if its good bow wood??? ill do some reaserch too but if you know just chip in please
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The leaves on the left look like a Variegated Euonymus an ornamental.
http://www.google.com/search?q=variegated+euonymus&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=_6VkUP-9CcrW2wXTgoCoBQ&ved=0CB0QsAQ&biw=1280&bih=937
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Here's a website I just found about ten minutes ago. It's got a good list of woods.
http://www.wood-database.com/wood-identification/
Here's Laburnum:
http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-identification/hardwoods/laburnum/
It is, indeed, a good bow wood.
Dang, I broke my lurking streak.
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well that Laburnum is a dead tree now >:D there a quite a few staves in the bunch of growth! some of them are small, but i can live with that. as for the Variegated Euonymus, does anybody know if thats a good bow wood?
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started cutting wood, will collect some pear, plumb, maple, ect.
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Here's the haul from today, 9 pieces of wood and a potential for up to 11 bows! there are 4 pear, 2 laburnum, 2 not fully identified but the ones from the left on my first pic of this post. and one plum cherry.
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rest of the pics.
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Looks like a good haul! Make sure you seal the ends well. Then seal them again, later. I've had wood checking this summer despite having sealed the ends. Maybe it's the drought.
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Cool! Looks like we'll be seeing some new bows in a while ;).
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Looks like ya got some tricky wood there.
Some one once told me 'if ya aint breaking, you aint building'.
Seal em up tight, especially the fruit trees.
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yep there all sealed up tight for now, think i should take the bark off though? i know there will be several character bows to make, which makes it all the more fun of a learning experience!
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Careful with the laburnum. All parts of the plant are poisonous.
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ok, what do you suggest? should i wash my hands after touching it?
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I wouldnt de-bark em.
Just be patient and deal with getting the bark off later, it might suck...
Alot of wood is piosonious, make sure you are in a well venilated space. Wear a respirator if using power tools and ofcourse wash your hands. It's mostly the dust ya gotta worry bout though.
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sounds like a plan, i was thinking about reducing them to rough dimentions and then lashing them till they are dry, especially since it is still rather dry in washington. atm its about 41-59% RH, so that means i can get them down to a low MC before fall and winter hits here.
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If your anything like me, youve got your hands full all ready.
I would focus on one thing at a time.
I bet most bowyers think back on all the awesome wood they ruined while still inexperianced.
Surely I fit in that group.
That includes (especially) roughing out a stave.
Id just a take it on step at a time, dont get too crazy.
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Careful with the laburnum. All parts of the plant are poisonous.
Indeed it is, but I've never had any issues with it. I once had to remove about 30 small trees from the end of a garden and I didn't even know anything but the pods were poisonous in those days. So as long as your not sucking and chewing it you should be ok :) and you can always wear some light gloves to keep it off your skin if you are still concerned about it.
Toxicity of Laburnum (http://www.thepoisongarden.co.uk/atoz/laburnum_anagyroides.htm)
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ok, ill just leave them be until they are dry. I still have more to cut, probably post some pics within the next weeks of my haul for the rest. *Edit* I have a Load of plumb and BL on this property still, and a lot of it needs to be pruned. Its amazing how big some of these trees have gotten! some are upwards of 10-12 inches in diameter. anybody ever used holly? i thought that since its a fruit or berry bearing tree i could use it maybe?
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3 more plumb ready to be coated in glue