Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: wvfknapper on December 28, 2007, 09:56:19 pm

Title: Wild Plum
Post by: wvfknapper on December 28, 2007, 09:56:19 pm

Anyone ever work wild Plum,, I cut a couple pieces the other day and the wood looks really dense, Nice purple color , Should I use the heart wood or leave the sapwood on?

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Title: Re: Wild Plum
Post by: Ryan_Gill_HuntPrimitive on December 28, 2007, 10:09:28 pm

i dunno, but i am jealous

Title: Re: Wild Plum
Post by: GregB on December 28, 2007, 10:13:51 pm

My guess would be to remove the sap wood and draw knife down to a selected grain as with osage.

Title: Re: Wild Plum
Post by: Justin Snyder on December 28, 2007, 10:34:42 pm

As thick as the sapwood is on one side I would make at least one stave with the sapwood still on just for comparison.  I think it would make a beautiful bow with 50/50. Justin

Title: Re: Wild Plum
Post by: duffontap on December 28, 2007, 10:39:30 pm

If it were me I would leave the sapwood intact if you could still show the heartwood down the length of the limbs--like Justin said.

         J. D.

Title: Re: Wild Plum
Post by: 330bull on December 28, 2007, 10:39:49 pm

And back it with Cherry Bark!  Purple on purple with the sapwood in between...very nice!  You could call it "Barney"...   ??? ???

Title: Re: Wild Plum
Post by: Sidewinder on December 29, 2007, 11:47:27 am

That would be very unique combination. Don't believe there are many bows around like that. I would think it would a worthwhile endeavor. Danny

Title: Re: Wild Plum
Post by: Eric Kol on December 29, 2007, 01:34:06 pm

I have worked with wild plum in non bow applivcations....whistles, flyboxes etc. When that stuff seasons it is rock hard! the colors fade somewhat, but it glows with tung oil, very rich. I have had wrsit thick branches check pretty badly, but think for a stave I would season much more carefully. My only surviving wild plum tree looks like an overgrown bonsai, not on remotly straight branch on the thing. I'm going to cut some suckers of with part of the root and transplant them to other spots in the yard, crowded with other plants so they'll grow straight!
I can't wait to see it....I hope to build a plum bow in the next few years (once I actually learn to make a bow!).

Title: Re: Wild Plum
Post by: Badger on December 29, 2007, 03:06:08 pm

      I have made a few from domestic plum, I left the sap wood on. Plum is very strong and will make high draw weight bows from small branches. Season carefully as it likes to check badly and twist. Steve