Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Maxspin on February 11, 2013, 11:09:19 am
-
This stuff can make a bow? I read it on the internet so it must be true. :-\
(http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy71/maxspin_photos/Scotch%20Brooom/ScotchBroom_zps64702f19.jpg)
Anyone played with this? Does it check? Definitely going to require some straightening. No such thing as straight pieces.
(http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy71/maxspin_photos/Scotch%20Brooom/IMG_2529_zps62250fa4.jpg)
-
It has a tendency to check badly. It is very dense wood, but I have trouble finding large diameter pieces that are even billet length. Looks like you have some good ones there. Watch for rotten heartwood.
-
I'll get a picture of the ends. I am sure that I have some with rotten heartwood. I am just hoping to get 1-2 bows out of these.
Keith
-
Unwritten rule of bowyery...
When a species of wood, generally not thought of as "bow wood" is brought up on a bow making forum, the author assumes the responsibility of testing the capabilities of that wood and posting the results for all to see. ??? :D
-
Yes it does, and I have seen some nice bows made of it too... Just not by me :)
-
I am also interested in scotch broom. we have LOADS of it EVERYWHERE... Many of them around here are known to get near 4 inches in diameter... im hoping to collect some soon and use it :D
-
shure does, I have seen at least one posted on this site, Bub
-
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,32850.msg434816.html#msg434816
here's a link to some pics, think randman made them
-
Maxspin,
Seal the ends keep them in a cool place for at least six months, similar to drying ocean spray or indian plum. Check your in box.
-
Mmmmmmm. ok soundsa interesting. Where abouts do you live..?
Here on the West Coast there are quite a few other species that are good for bow making.
This is something I found out about Spruce. Beside using YEW for bows and other woods they also used spruce to great extent.
Spruce is valued for its wood, which is light, soft, and relatively strong and flexible.
Aboriginal people made spruce saplings into snowshoe frames and sometimes into bows. They heated the gum to make a glue to fasten skins onto bows and arrowheads onto shafts.
-
Mmmmmmm. ok soundsa interesting. Where abouts do you live..?
I am outside of Olympia WA.
-
you and i live very close! amazing how were all surrouded by such nuts...i mean, such awesome people ;D
-
I can testify that Scotch broom makes freakin awesome bows. Very strong in tension. Don't peel the bark off of those or rough them out as you will get unuseable reflex and massive checking on the bark side. Seal the ends and leave them for a month and 1/2 and then you can start to work it (inside). It gives up moisture real fast and seasons fast enough that once you have peeled it and roughed it out (you'll still get some drying reflex) it'll be dry enough to tiller after a couple of weeks. after a year it gets really hard. I can usually find longer staves around here no prob (Seattle) but those short ones will work fine as billets. Just don't glue any reflex into them when you splice em because you'll get enough reflex just with the seasoning.
It responds real well to heat treating and great with sinew.
Here's some shots of mine:
The one on the left is sinew backed (it's actually the second bow I ever finshed to shooting and it was way under weight so I sinewed it - my first sinewed bow ) 45" ntn 35#@22". The one on the left is 35#@24 - 1" wide.
All of the staves in the last shot are scotch broom and the one that is 4th from the right is going to be my trade bow this year (now that I got my name and I know who it's going to) Its pulling about 60lbs right now.
-
Mmmmmmm. ok soundsa interesting. Where abouts do you live..?
I am outside of Olympia WA.
Randman has built some great ones from Broom......what can I say. 8)
Other than that, Try finding some spruce and back it with something as it is on the soft side. This will be my next project for board style laminate. I will hope to back it with maple.
Here are a few species hopefully around your neck of the Woods...no pun.
- OCEAN SPRAY
- CHOKE CHERRY
- VINE MAPLE
- MOUNTAIN MAPLE
- DOUGLAS MAPLE
- DOGWOOD
- APPLE
I almost forgot one of the better bow woods Yew.
-
Randman,
Those are very nice. I only found one long enough for a bow without splicing. I will have to stop again and look for some more.
Is this the normal color for the heartwood or do the all have rot.
The one on the upper right looks bad for sure.
(http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy71/maxspin_photos/Scotch%20Brooom/IMG_2531_zps2225c723.jpg)
Keith
-
Send me one of those and we'll have a broom buildin contest :)
-
Keith, I would say that those look good except for the one on the right.
-
Thanks,
I’ll have to go back and look for some more. Need to get it now. I’m not going anywhere near that stuff when it is in bloom. :o
Keith
-
Those look pretty normal Maxspin. Even the one on the right (Most of that heartwood will be gone by the time you get that thin enough to bend). I always liken it to chocolate-vanilla swirl ice cream because that's what the belly will look like when you get it done. Little swirls here and there of chocolate colored heartwood traces. You'll have a mostly sap wood bow. I have yet to find one with actual rot in the center although a whole stave will start to rot fast if left out in the environment.