Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: hochgaertner on October 05, 2013, 02:13:19 pm

Title: Knots in Laburnum
Post by: hochgaertner on October 05, 2013, 02:13:19 pm
Hello,
I have a nearly pretty stave Laburnum with a length from 64".
But there a 4 knots in the middle over a length from 9".
I only see two options. One is to saw it in two parts,  to take the knots out
and to splice it. The other is holding the grip stiff for a length of 10".

What do you think about?
Thanks
Peter
Title: Re: Knots in Laburnum
Post by: NeolithicMan on October 05, 2013, 02:22:34 pm
gnarly and beautiful wood there
Title: Re: Knots in Laburnum
Post by: TacticalFate on October 05, 2013, 04:37:36 pm
you'll prob lose more working limb if you cut and splice than if you leave the center stiff.
Title: Re: Knots in Laburnum
Post by: hochgaertner on October 05, 2013, 09:34:32 pm
Do you think it has a chance to get a bow -- or  firewood?
Title: Re: Knots in Laburnum
Post by: huisme on October 05, 2013, 11:06:41 pm
Bow. If my experience with vine maple holds any water, I'd say that's going to make one beautiful character-filled bow.
Title: Re: Knots in Laburnum
Post by: hochgaertner on October 06, 2013, 07:09:05 pm
Do you think itīs possible to make the knotty parts bending?
Title: Re: Knots in Laburnum
Post by: wood_bandit99 on October 06, 2013, 08:03:38 pm
From the close up pics I would maybe get them bending possibly? Could u give us some farther away shots?
Title: Re: Knots in Laburnum
Post by: BowSlayer on October 06, 2013, 09:42:06 pm
From the close up pics I would maybe get them bending possibly? Could u give us some farther away shots?

+1
Title: Re: Knots in Laburnum
Post by: Josh B on October 06, 2013, 10:49:48 pm
Disclaimer-I've never used this wood before.  That being said, I wouldn't recommend trying to get that knot on the edge of the limb working. If you had followed the grain around it then yes.  But since you've cut through it, the only option I see to making it bend there is to follow the grain around the inside of the knot and remove it from the equation.  This of course, will leave a notch in the side of the limb, but if you follow the grain accurately it won't hurt a thing.  Just be mindful of it while tillering and it shouldn't be a problem.  Josh
Title: Re: Knots in Laburnum
Post by: mikekeswick on October 07, 2013, 06:55:46 am
I can't really tell what's going on with your stave from those photos! But....labernum is every bit as good as yew and seems to take similar 'abuse'. I'd also highly recommend you don't make a 'normal' flatbow with it limb profile-wise. Go narrow and deep think yew longbow cross section. Wide and thin won't take any set but will be sluggish.
Title: Re: Knots in Laburnum
Post by: hochgaertner on October 07, 2013, 03:30:15 pm
Thank you for the advices. Here are more pics.

Peter
Title: Re: Knots in Laburnum
Post by: hochgaertner on October 20, 2013, 06:06:21 pm
Hello,
at the moment she is 54" and pulls 55# at 26". Before I started to work
I saved the big knot with a fishing line.
Then I bent the bow with dry heat and steam, because one limb has been
highly reflexed and the other was deflex. One spot on the left side near the
fade looks weak, but there was the deflex starting.

Thank you
Peter
Title: Re: Knots in Laburnum
Post by: echatham on October 20, 2013, 06:12:54 pm
now that is ridiculously cool.
Title: Re: Knots in Laburnum
Post by: dwardo on October 20, 2013, 06:24:32 pm
Gotta admit I had that pegged as firewood. Stunning save, and that tiller.
Title: Re: Knots in Laburnum
Post by: hochgaertner on October 20, 2013, 06:53:24 pm
Sorry sorry I made a mistake. The length is not 54 itīs 60".

Peter
Title: Re: Knots in Laburnum
Post by: PrimitiveTim on October 20, 2013, 10:50:59 pm
That grain looks awesome! 
Title: Re: Knots in Laburnum
Post by: Mike Joe on October 20, 2013, 10:55:59 pm
now that is ridiculously cool.


X 2
Title: Re: Knots in Laburnum
Post by: Badger on October 20, 2013, 11:13:21 pm
  Outstanding, beautiful bow!
Title: Re: Knots in Laburnum
Post by: Buckeye Guy on October 20, 2013, 11:15:45 pm
Nice job !!
Title: Re: Knots in Laburnum
Post by: IdahoMatt on October 20, 2013, 11:17:22 pm
Great job.  Looked like a tricky stave. 
Title: Re: Knots in Laburnum
Post by: hochgaertner on October 21, 2013, 03:33:02 am
Thank you. But what do you think about the tiller?
Title: Re: Knots in Laburnum
Post by: dbb on October 21, 2013, 06:29:42 am
Beautiful work on a tricky stave!
I hope you dont plan on slapping a leatherhandle on that gorgeous wood...
Because then i have to get a plane from sweden just to slap you silly  >:( 8) >:D ;D
Title: Re: Knots in Laburnum
Post by: BowEd on October 21, 2013, 07:52:13 am
Wow.....Fine work on that charcterish bow.Tiller looks fine to me.Congrats.
Title: Re: Knots in Laburnum
Post by: hochgaertner on October 21, 2013, 02:32:57 pm
Thanks  for looking and for the friendly comments. Surely I will not cover her.

Peter
Title: Re: Knots in Laburnum
Post by: ErictheViking on October 21, 2013, 02:48:08 pm
Absolutely beautiful. incredible work getting that stave to bend like that. just plain cool.
Title: Re: Knots in Laburnum
Post by: Carson (CMB) on October 22, 2013, 02:39:36 am
Beautiful bow.  It deserves reposting in a separate thread, "knots in laburnum" is easy to overlook, and this is a bow everyone should see!