Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: sleek on August 21, 2014, 02:04:33 am

Title: bug hole stave
Post by: sleek on August 21, 2014, 02:04:33 am

Anybody ever built a bow with a few bug holes in the back? Im not talki g the tracks bugs leave I mean a straiight up hole about big as a bb around. I dont know if I have the meat to chase a ring. The wood is pecan. Im going for 30# at 25" for this. Just a target shooter.

Title: Re: bug hole stave
Post by: wizardgoat on August 21, 2014, 03:19:40 am

I'd probably fill it with dust and super glue, then back it with something.

Title: Re: bug hole stave
Post by: Pappy on August 21, 2014, 04:56:48 am

You can do like wizardgoat said if the go straight,problem is most time they tunnel and you never know where they went,it's a gamble at best. :) At the weight and draw length you are talking about you might get away with it. :-\
   Pappy

Title: Re: bug hole stave
Post by: Del the cat on August 21, 2014, 07:37:17 am

Don't do it!
Like Pappy says.
I had some Oregon Yew billets with a few bug holes in the back. Got to within an inch of finishing it and it exploded.
Snapped clean across the back where a bug hole went in and then turned to run square across the back just beneath the surface >:( cutting the sapwood almost clean in two.
Fine on the belly if you fill, but fatal on the back, as filling achieves nothing, it will just pull away from the filling material.
Back it is the only safe option.
Del

Title: Re: bug hole stave
Post by: George Tsoukalas on August 21, 2014, 07:37:48 am

Yes, I have a built a bow or 2 or 3 with bug holes. One was osage. The other hickory. I can't remember much else.You can fill them with glue and sawdust. I didn't bother.
The osage bow had a lot of shots through it.
Yes, you take a chance.
Jawge

Title: Re: bug hole stave
Post by: Onebowonder on August 21, 2014, 01:34:22 pm

Pecan is basically a better tasting Hickory.  It is tough stuff, and at the weight you are going for, you are quite likely to do alright.  ...just keep in mind that IF that little bug chewed his way across the back of the bow just under the surface that you are working with, you would likely have an issue at 10 pounds of draw!  Bug scat and digested wood pulp are a very poor substitute for lignin and contiguous wood fibers.  My son had about a hundred hours into a little bow he was building when one of those undetected bug holes blew up on him.  (Hickory also)


OneBow

Title: Re: bug hole stave
Post by: bradsmith2010 on August 21, 2014, 02:48:35 pm

yes out of osage,,,

Title: Re: bug hole stave
Post by: Buckeye Guy on August 21, 2014, 04:21:22 pm

Yes

Title: Re: bug hole stave
Post by: Eric Krewson on August 21, 2014, 05:04:51 pm

I saw an osage bow the other day I couldn't believe; big pierced knots, wood wasp larva tunnels straight down and sideways across the back. The owner said he wanted to try to make a bow out of the stave just to see what would happen, it was shooting just fine. 

Title: Re: bug hole stave
Post by: Del the cat on August 21, 2014, 05:34:13 pm

So to sumarise.
With Osage it's vital not to violate the back... unless you are a bug :laugh:
Del