Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: kid bow on April 06, 2013, 01:31:47 pm

Title: cedar board bow
Post by: kid bow on April 06, 2013, 01:31:47 pm
Well I went to home depot and was looking at cedar boards. They are only $3.34 and they are about an in and a half to two inches in width and about an inch thick. Anyway I was searching and found the perfect board. It is about 3/4 heartwood and 1/4 sapwood. I'll post pictures soon.
I hope you all are having a good day today
Title: Re: cedar board bow
Post by: Jmilbrandt on April 06, 2013, 01:36:37 pm
Are the boards you're talking about western red cedar? If they are I doubt you will be able to get a nice bow from them. Try looking at the red oak instead.
Title: Re: cedar board bow
Post by: Thesquirrelslinger on April 06, 2013, 01:42:19 pm
Well I went to home depot and was looking at cedar boards. They are only $3.34 and they are about an in and a half to two inches in width and about an inch thick. Anyway I was searching and found the perfect board. It is about 3/4 heartwood and 1/4 sapwood. I'll post pictures soon.
I hope you all are having a good day today
Last time I checked, ceder is not a great self-bow wood. Juniper, on the other hand is.
Perhaps you are confusing Eastern Red Ceder, which is actually a species of Juniper.
Go for red oak, its cheaper, and shoots better.
Its also more forgiving, although it is harder to work.
Title: Re: cedar board bow
Post by: osagejack on April 06, 2013, 01:48:30 pm
for sure b careful cedar is very brittle,,and the wood at lowes has been dry kilned  which makes its even worse,,
Title: Re: cedar board bow
Post by: kid bow on April 06, 2013, 02:42:31 pm
I say cedar because that's what the tag says it is eastern red cedar.   
Title: Re: cedar board bow
Post by: Ifrit617 on April 06, 2013, 02:44:43 pm
Home Depot does not sell ERC.

It is a much less bow worthy cedar.

Be careful when it eventually blows.

Jon
Title: Re: cedar board bow
Post by: DavidV on April 06, 2013, 03:00:28 pm
It's not ERC, but might make some arrows if the grain is good.
Title: Re: cedar board bow
Post by: kid bow on April 06, 2013, 10:28:10 pm
You guys realize that I have bows made of cedar that I've had since I was like 3 right. I'm 16 now and they still shoot great. Anyway this just makes me wanna prove you all wrong
Title: Re: cedar board bow
Post by: Cardboard_Duck on April 06, 2013, 10:43:06 pm
Eastern Red Cedar is a great bow wood with the right design. I have a few hickory backed ERC's and started two more today. I think everyone is just saying that what you found is possibly not ERC. The big box stores have been known to mislabel the cedars. If it is ERC go for it :) just back it with something like rawhide, maple, hickory, even bamboo works.
Title: Re: cedar board bow
Post by: Ifrit617 on April 06, 2013, 10:49:17 pm
You guys realize that I have bows made of cedar that I've had since I was like 3 right. I'm 16 now and they still shoot great. Anyway this just makes me wanna prove you all wrong

Post some pics or it never happened.

Good luck..  >:D >:D

Jon
Title: Re: cedar board bow
Post by: kid bow on April 07, 2013, 02:38:57 am
Had Jon had they eventually dried out and cracked, had bug damage or broke outright. Trust me though they last really long if made correctly. It's a tough wood that can take a beating I have one problem though. For rawhide my dog has those rawhide roles could I just use those for rawhide
Title: Re: cedar board bow
Post by: okie64 on April 07, 2013, 09:17:31 am
Erc is beautiful wood and makes a fine bow, its just a little tension weak. Lets see some pics when you get started on it. You can use those rolled up dog bones for rawhide but you might want to thin it down a little first. Theyre usually pretty thick.
Title: Re: cedar board bow
Post by: kid bow on April 07, 2013, 10:34:22 am
Ok thank you. Can't find rawhide till deer season. Hunters that I know are pretty generous
Title: Re: cedar board bow
Post by: vinemaplebows on April 07, 2013, 03:00:41 pm
You guys realize that I have bows made of cedar that I've had since I was like 3 right. I'm 16 now and they still shoot great. Anyway this just makes me wanna prove you all wrong

Depending on where your at (here on the west coast) Eastern red cedar is not sold in HD, but you never know. The wood sold at HD's I have seen is western red cedar a very brittle wood, you could make a bow but wear safety glasses. No one is saying you can't make a bow....just trying to figure the species you have. :)
Title: Re: cedar board bow
Post by: sleek on April 07, 2013, 03:12:24 pm
    You guys realize that I have bows made of cedar that I've had since I was like 3 right. I'm 16 now and they still shoot great. Anyway this just makes me wanna prove you all wrong

After sayin that, you say this:

Had Jon had they eventually dried out and cracked, had bug damage or broke outright.

So, are they still shooting great, or all they all broken? Cause it seems like Jon asked for pics, after you said you HAVE them, then you say you HAD them and they are all broke.  I'm confused.

Anyways, western cedar might make an ok bow 30# and under, but I wouldnt do anything beyond that. The red stuff is the good stuff, and lows sells that. IDK about the Depot though. As for proving us wrong, when you do it, Pics, or it never happened :)
Title: Re: cedar board bow
Post by: Pat B on April 07, 2013, 03:23:34 pm
I've never seen western red cedar with sapwood. Didn't you say it was sapwood/heartwood on the board? Pics would really ID it quickly.
Title: Re: cedar board bow
Post by: adb on April 07, 2013, 04:01:07 pm
You guys realize that I have bows made of cedar that I've had since I was like 3 right. I'm 16 now and they still shoot great. Anyway this just makes me wanna prove you all wrong

You've been making bows since you where like 3? Wow. That's amazing. I'm with sleek... post some pics of these bows, I'd like to see them too.
Title: Re: cedar board bow
Post by: Ifrit617 on April 07, 2013, 04:08:12 pm
Hahaha adb and sleek you guys are cracking me up. I agree with Pat some pics of the wood would help for a positive Id.

Jon
Title: Re: cedar board bow
Post by: okie64 on April 07, 2013, 04:20:01 pm
He didnt say anything about making bows when he was 3. He said he has had bows made of cedar since he was 3. They do sell erc at both home depot and lowes maybe just not in certain locations. The lowes and home depot in my area both have erc in stock. And since he said it had sapwood I just assumed it was erc since western cedar doesnt have sapwood. Some of you guys should read posts a little more careful before you go off slammin somebody.
Title: Re: cedar board bow
Post by: adb on April 07, 2013, 04:23:07 pm
I ain't slammin' nobody... relax. Just pullin' his leg.
Title: Re: cedar board bow
Post by: okie64 on April 07, 2013, 04:42:44 pm
Yeah I guess I should read posts more carefully too. :)
Title: Re: cedar board bow
Post by: Ifrit617 on April 07, 2013, 04:57:14 pm
Yeah I guess I came of a little harsh too, really just skeptical is all. I still would like to see pics of the board though.

Jon
Title: Re: cedar board bow
Post by: kid bow on April 07, 2013, 05:51:24 pm
Ok guys calm down I realize what was typed my self and it was typo on my part I have that bs auto-correct have was supposed to be had I  apologize. As for the harshness I want to be a soldier so that doesn't really matter. Anyways ill post pictures here in a bit
Title: Re: cedar board bow
Post by: Jmilbrandt on April 07, 2013, 06:07:51 pm
That doesn't look like erc, is this one of your older bows or the same wood you bought from home Depot?
Title: Re: cedar board bow
Post by: kid bow on April 07, 2013, 06:19:31 pm
Wood from home depot
Title: Re: cedar board bow
Post by: DavidV on April 07, 2013, 07:54:52 pm
Sorry, but that isn't ERC :(   You have to understand that eastern red cedar isn't actually cedar, the cedar they sell at home depot is. You can still make abow but I'd go for a really low weight. Western Red cedar is extremely brittle.