Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: ionicmuffin on January 28, 2013, 11:56:34 pm
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i have here an ironwood stave sent to me for xmas trade. The total length on the back of the stave is 4.5 inches so if i split it down the middle i should get 2 staves with about 2+ inches per. the grain is perfectly strait and the thickness is about 1.5 inches. First off, can i split it and get two hunting weight bows? (assuming i dont mess up) second, what are the properties associated with this wood? high compression strength or tension? what are some ideal designs that the wood dictates it likes? How does it take to heat treating? reflexing? anything else you can think of that the wood normally displays?
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Do you feel lucky? ;)
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I can solve that problem for you. I have a bandsaw and I rip osage and other woods in half all the time. Perfectly down the middle every time. Just pay shipping to tulsa and back and soon as I get it, I will be sending you two ironwood staves back the very next day. May eve throw something else in there to go with it....
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Thanks for the offer sleek, i do happen to have a bandsaw at my disposal, splitting i was under the impression, would follow the grain, and thus, would keep the grain from running off. in any case, i dont really want to pay shipping, however, i may just do that. my bandsaw at the moment is just a cheap little 140$ one. And on top of that, it is having major issues, so right now i dont think it would be ripped in under 15 mins with mine.(probably more like 30-45 mins) If i do send it out, ill send it out in a few weeks. i dont have the money atm to ship it.
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Do you feel lucky? ;)
Well...? Do ya, punk?
Man, I loved those dirty Harry lines! It's pretty tempting to get greedy, but with that high of a crown, you may end up with narrower dimensions than you think. Just sayin'. But I feel you. I would want two, too.*
-John
*But not a tutu.
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you might be right on this one JW, i still think its got space. Ive heard that the tension side of HHB is very elasticy, so could have a higher crown and not a problem? I do feel lucky, ok, maybe i just feel confident that it will provide two >:D looks a lot like my hackberry thats about the same width. Thats part of the reason why i wanted to know the attributes of the wood
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Draw out the cross section you hope to achieve at the fade outs on the narrow end of the stave. That should tell you what can hope for.
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Alright, ill see what it looks like ;D
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If you are worried about screwing it up or not, send it to me and I'll screw it up for you.
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Oh of that im sure >:D
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I would try to split it. On smaller pieces like that I have started in the center of the stave with a hatchet and hammered it into the stave starting the split towards both ends. I split one of these HHB pieces into 2 staves with this method. I was able to get 2 bows out of it. I'm saving the other half for a rainy day.
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r55/clintanders/SDC10498.jpg)
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you could use a pocket knife or something more narrow then you'd have more control
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One rule of thumb that has served me well......if in doubt, then dont! This goes for splitting and when to stop using the hatchet especially;-)
Cheers
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Split er ;) but be aware sometimes greed will leave you with nothing >:D
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Too nice a stave to split and risk ruining it. I have a wych elm that similar and after lots of ummin and arrin I just went for one bow. I was surprised how little wood i removed before i got to the width i wanted. The crown can be very deceiving.
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Its up to you buddy, just lemme know. My bandsaw is no toy. And with a stave that is pipe straight like that, there will be no grain run off as it is already straight. However, even with the most crooked osage, I am VERY good at following grain and have never had one break due to a deficiency on my part behind the band saw. You just let me know if you want it done or not, happy to help. Good luck either way!
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I would lay out 2 bows on it,one on each side and cut it down the middle with a band saw, One thing to remember,if you split it and it goes bad it will probably run off to one side,if it does that you still have the one,so nothing lost. IW will probably split right down the center from my experience. :)
Pappy
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Wow, be nice to that stave. Thats as pretty as HHB gets.
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What pappy said ;)
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If you can identify the base of the tree in that stave then go the oposite end and line it up dead center and you should'nt get any run out. If that stave is 4" wide you will be starting with a 2" wide stave. I have done it on osage several times and it worked out good. Danny
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I would. Start at the small end. Should be ok if the grain is straight. I've never ruined both staves but have had the split run out and obtained one stave and a tomato stake. Not that I need more tomato stakes. Jawge
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I'm with Pappy. You are gonna layout your centerline by following the grain anyway (at least I assume thats how everyone else does it). Might as well lay it out now and bandsaw it. It will take out the uncertainty of spliting. Thats what I would do.......well I doubt I would have been smart enough to think about spitting it in two in the first place but......Thats what I would do if you gave it to me now.
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I'm no expert, ...but Pappy's idea of laying out the two bow backs prior to running it under the bandsaw makes a lot of sense to me.
OneBow
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Muffin Man, You always help me on my questions, I am thankful. Are you going to decrown? that might matter. You can make a cardboard pencil jig to help you follow the grain. Simply measure to the center of the stave ( follow the circumference of wood). Make a hole in cardboard at that measurement. Put the measured edge on the outside of the stave and follow the stave with pencil and finger. You probably already know this but just in case that might help. It only works when you have one split edge to follow. Cut it. Just my opinion i hope I'm not wrong in this theory. Someone pipe up and tell me to shut up if I'm wrong.
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I usually lay out the center following the longitudinal grain by eye but what you are saying will work also,some folks have trouble seeing it and that way would help in their case. If you do it that way and then cut it you will have no problem
violating the grain whitch is what splitting will also do for you ,just with a little more risk. :)
Pappy
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Ironwood ought to make a nice bow with 1.5" width to midlimb, at least from what I've seen of the wood. With the grain so straight you can bandsaw that in half without fear of having runouts on the edges. If that isn't an option, I would at least kerf down the back with a skilsaw so you can be sure it will split true.
On the other hand, both of the staves will have a little lean to them. Whereas if you go right down the middle with one bow you'll have the perfect piece.
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I would try to split it. On smaller pieces like that I have started in the center of the stave with a hatchet and hammered it into the stave starting the split towards both ends.
I totally agree. This has never failed for me.
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I would lay out 2 bows on it,one on each side and cut it down the middle with a band saw, One thing to remember,if you split it and it goes bad it will probably run off to one side,if it does that you still have the one,so nothing lost. IW will probably split right down the center from my experience. :)
Pappy
Pappy, are these 2 staves bows now? I'd like to see em. I've got a thing for snakey bows.
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Yes they are,I actually got a belly split off the same stave,I was really greedy.Don't want to steal the thread but some timeit pays off to be stingy, ;)Of course sometimes it don't. :( >:( Just depends on weather you are willing to take the risk. :)
Pappy
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Pappy you make beautiful bows! Thanks for sharing :)
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Mark a center line, score it with a skilsaw then drive some wedges into the score line. Can't be any worse than osage to split.
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i took the risk last night with this knotty yew stave and it payed off. i reckon you could split that one ok.
(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr292/dfee82/IMG_0056.jpg)