Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: Kennedy on January 19, 2014, 07:42:45 pm
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Where do y'all get the wood I'm in the southeastern part of Louisiana and we have hickory oak and pecan here for sure. But do most of y'all cut or order your wood?
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Cut it down!
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cut cut cut ;D
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Maybe I should head on down and show you how to cut and split >:D give me a good excuse to duck hunt ;D I would start with the hickory and wait until spring when the bark will pull off instead of scraping it off .
Tracy
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Ha Tracy the ducks are about the only thing getting laid down here. It's been slow.
What diameter should I go for?
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6-8" is nice, especially tension strong woods like pecan/hickory. A high crowned back is good.
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wait until spring when the bark will pull off
Oh ya, that's super important. Saves you a lot of grief. Any physical signs from the tree that it is ready to cut? Like budding or should you wait until it's full of leaves?
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now I have heard many different opinions about drying the wood out. From cutting it and immediately drying it, to cutting it splitting it and roughing a bow out. What do yall do as far as drying it out?
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You can cut any time of year but for the whitewoods it is easier when the tree starts moving water from roots to top. I've worked hickory after splitting into to staves and gradually reduce it to bow dimensions as it dries but prefer to let it dry first now. Be sure to seal the ends and ;/back if you remove the bark while waiting for it to dry. Guessing in a month or two the sap will be up and the bark will pull off in LA. If you can't wait, find some items to trade for seasoned staves here.
Tracy
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Welcome Aboard Kennedy,
If it ain't Osage, Black Locust or Yew, get it IN out of the elements.
And living in Louisiana, I'm in Houston, I'm sure you have the same Bug Woes I have...
Get the Bark off as soon as you get your staves cut.
Then Seal the Back and Ends of each stave.
Store em in a dry location with good air flow.
You could Hurry a stave or two by putting them in a car with the windows up,
A Hot Box or even in your Attic.
Weigh the stave before you put it in your Hot Spot, then every few days to a week thereafter.
When the stave stops dropping weight it's ready to work.
If you rough it out to Just Over bow dimensions it will go even faster...
If you do rough it out be sure to Seal it again.
Elm and Crepe Myrle will make a bow as well...
Good Luck,
-gus
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I appreciate the info. I'm finally getting everything together to start making them. I've been wanting to for a long time.
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I saw a lot of White Mulberry when I was working in La. Osage's cousin.
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What do they look like?
I'm sure I don't have to mention I'm new at this