Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: RedBear1313 on April 16, 2014, 02:45:29 pm

Title: New member, first post, some pics and questions
Post by: RedBear1313 on April 16, 2014, 02:45:29 pm

Hey guys, new member to the forum and new to handcrafting my own bows, but I wanted to share a few of my pics and ask a question about one of the staves I have started working on.

The first 2 pics are of 2 trees that I found and harvested. The first one was a shorter tree and I got 3 nice staves along with several thin ones I think I'll use for other stuff, or possibly some small child's bows.  Both of these trees are MO osage, cut one in jan/feb and the other in april just a couple weeks ago.

(http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x114/grymmtymm/Bows/01_zps7a4f74ff.jpg) (http://s185.photobucket.com/user/grymmtymm/media/Bows/01_zps7a4f74ff.jpg.html)
(http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x114/grymmtymm/Bows/02_zps40567c05.jpg) (http://s185.photobucket.com/user/grymmtymm/media/Bows/02_zps40567c05.jpg.html)
(http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x114/grymmtymm/Bows/03_zps0a587bff.jpg) (http://s185.photobucket.com/user/grymmtymm/media/Bows/03_zps0a587bff.jpg.html)

Are there any woods you don't want to use for arrows? from both of these trees I got quite a bit of scrap material that would make some nice arrows or foreshafts.
Would osage be a good fit for these?  I know that's not the traditional wood used but it's what I have and I don't want to waste it.

and if you look at the 3rd pic, this is a stave I worked down to one ring and then rubbed with oil/grease and coated with polyurethane.
if you look closely in the area circled, you will see a few slivers of the early growth underneath begginning to show through where I was scraping the late growth above. The are ever so small, just slivers.

Is this top ring violated and should I go down one more ring?

Title: Re: New member, first post, some pics and questions
Post by: RedBear1313 on April 16, 2014, 02:55:05 pm

And the 3rd last pic I am asking of the ring violation, FYI, is the stave in the second photo, 2nd one from left next to the one wrapped in packing paper.

Title: Re: New member, first post, some pics and questions
Post by: BOWMAN53 on April 16, 2014, 02:57:11 pm

welcome. looks like you got some good staves and no you didnt violate a ring. atlease not that i can see.

Title: Re: New member, first post, some pics and questions
Post by: RedBear1313 on April 16, 2014, 03:00:47 pm

well if you look closely you can some slivers of the early growth showing through the late growth.   very very slight slivers.

Title: Re: New member, first post, some pics and questions
Post by: Pat B on April 16, 2014, 03:31:58 pm

If you are seeing he early wood from under the top ring I would go down one more ring. How thick are the rings? will you post pics of the rings for us to look at?
 Welcome to PA.

Title: Re: New member, first post, some pics and questions
Post by: zenart on April 17, 2014, 12:06:12 am

Nice stash of Osage! Welcome. I've never seen an osage arrow shaft.. doesn't mean they don't exist though. Others will chime in I'm sure.

Title: Re: New member, first post, some pics and questions
Post by: Pat B on April 17, 2014, 12:54:28 am

Osage will make a very heavy arrow.

Title: Re: New member, first post, some pics and questions
Post by: RedBear1313 on April 17, 2014, 01:36:00 am

the rings are fairly thin.

I'll have to take a pic later but the ring on top is one of the thicker ones.