Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: vinemaplebows on April 13, 2015, 12:44:52 am
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Here is some rare vine maple for me anyway. I could not get both hands around the largest one, and they are pipe straight for vine maple... :laugh:
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OMG!
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wow those look alot nicer than the bigger stuff up here. I don't mean to "one-up" you, I took these photos a couple weeks ago while looking for some yew.
Its cool how much different our VM looks than yours. Honestly I think the stuff in your region is better
(http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag255/wizardgoat/IMG_2721_zps42223940.jpg) (http://s1370.photobucket.com/user/wizardgoat/media/IMG_2721_zps42223940.jpg.html)
(http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag255/wizardgoat/IMG_2713_zps753797cf.jpg) (http://s1370.photobucket.com/user/wizardgoat/media/IMG_2713_zps753797cf.jpg.html)
(http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag255/wizardgoat/IMG_2715_zps546e1ce2.jpg) (http://s1370.photobucket.com/user/wizardgoat/media/IMG_2715_zps546e1ce2.jpg.html)
(http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag255/wizardgoat/IMG_2714_zpsc4d0ef46.jpg) (http://s1370.photobucket.com/user/wizardgoat/media/IMG_2714_zpsc4d0ef46.jpg.html)
some yew trees that didnt come home with me
(http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag255/wizardgoat/IMG_2727_zps56647427.jpg) (http://s1370.photobucket.com/user/wizardgoat/media/IMG_2727_zps56647427.jpg.html)
(http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag255/wizardgoat/IMG_2718_zps144e790a.jpg) (http://s1370.photobucket.com/user/wizardgoat/media/IMG_2718_zps144e790a.jpg.html)
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Those are big. I usually find it less than 4" diameter here in northern CA. And its usually gnarly, and down by the stream.
Gabe
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There are 4 of these monsters, and it will be quite the pack getting them out. The vines are about 20 + feet tall and straight the entire length...... :)
Those are some good pics there Wizard, love to look at what others see where they are at. I think we miss a lot of the adventure in bow building by not starting at the hunt for our staves. Wish more people would post pics of their area, and what they find in the woods! :laugh:
VMB
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a living tree worthes more than 100 dead bows！
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There are 4 of these monsters, and it will be quite the pack getting them out. The vines are about 20 + feet tall and straight the entire length...... :)
Those are some good pics there Wizard, love to look at what others see where they are at. I think we miss a lot of the adventure in bow building by not starting at the hunt for our staves. Wish more people would post pics of their area, and what they find in the woods! :laugh:
VMB
this is my area and pretty much what i have to choose from
(http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr226/barton664/2015-04-13%2014.28.47.jpg) (http://s486.photobucket.com/user/barton664/media/2015-04-13%2014.28.47.jpg.html)
(http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr226/barton664/Screenshot_2015-04-13-14-32-17.png) (http://s486.photobucket.com/user/barton664/media/Screenshot_2015-04-13-14-32-17.png.html)
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But isn't the attraction of vine maple that is grows like this ~~~~~~~?
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But isn't the attraction of vine maple that is grows like this ~~~~~~~?
Got tons of that, the point is....this is rare. :)
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a living tree worthes more than 100 dead bows！
Not to logging companies.... :laugh:
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Wow those are huge. But wizardgoat wins because his trees happen to have lighters and keys on them--what are the chances that would happen? O:)
There's not alot of VM in my neighborhood but my neighbor planted this tree like 30 years ago. He says I can have it. I only see one stave worthy trunk in the bunch, the one in the middle, and a ton of billet material. But its pretty big too.
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Wow those are huge. But wizardgoat wins because his trees happen to have lighters and keys on them--what are the chances that would happen? O:)
There's not alot of VM in my neighborhood but my neighbor planted this tree like 30 years ago. He says I can have it. I only see one stave worthy trunk in the bunch, the one in the middle, and a ton of billet material. But its pretty big too.
You would crap if you seen all the vine around me, I can hardly believe it......just picking the choice ones though are hard. :)
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Now ya got me needing to make a vinemaple brian I'll have to get ahold of ya for some billets ;)
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Brian ,
I never exhausted my work with VM like I wanted to before I moved to an area surrounded with oceanspray. I've been working almost exclusively with OS for quite awhile now, wanting to exhaust and discover it's potential before moving on. But eventually I'll take that middle trunk and make a couple of VM bows.
I'm getting spoiled by the OS because its nearly a bow the minute you cut it. An hour later I have it debarked and at floor tiller.
I'm also surrounded by hazel and serviceberry. Too much wood, not enough time!
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I do like Hazel, great wood with a little heat on the belly. I have a weaknest to want to work Cascara more than most woods, like it is easy to find, nice bright color, and most of all it works so easy.....I call it cheap Yew.
VMB
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Thanks for posting these pictures guys. It's cool to see a completely different environment and the types of trees in it. It's nothing like the area I'm in.
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I wouldn't know Cascara if you beat me with it. As far as an easy-working-wood, I've come to appreciate oceanspray when it is green. It needs to be worked down anyway, otherwise it will check badly, and when it is green it carves like celery. I've been clamping staves, green, into forms and letting them dry that way. They bend easily. Also, oceanspray makes great arrow shafts. So almost every bush will provide something.
Like these guys. I drive by these everyday. I have climbed high and low to find good OS staves and this neighbor has these two monsters growing, ornamentally, in his yard. He might as well have a safe full of cash laying open in his yard--the thoughts that have gone through my head.
Well this year these two beasts are not blooming--no leaves. I'm thinking they got sprayed. So I am poised to approach these people and ask if I can take them.
You might find heavier staves than these but you will not find a more prolific set of quality staves and shafts in a single plant than you see here.
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Interesting, it does not grow so bush like here under the tree canopy, in clear cuts (that have not been sprayed) it will, but most are sprayed these days. With all the spraying going on, both Ocean spray and Vine maple over the yrs will become a lot less prolific....which is what the timber companies want, they hate both. :embarassed:
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That is a big one. As big as the biggest I ever cut. It was the second vinemaple I cut and made my second bow from it. I didnt realize how rare it was at the time. http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=28934.0
Bryce knows were to find Vine maple like that by the truck load.
Nice OS Steve!