Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Badger on June 14, 2015, 09:58:34 am
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It seems like when I was younger I was looking for easier ways to do things. Now that I am older I find myself looking for ways to do things that will give me excersize as I am retired now. I wish I lived in osage country, I could have a complete excersize program all based on stave collection. Hiking in to find and cut staves, splitting them and hiking back out with them. Chasing the rings and draw knifing raw staves into bows.
All real good excersize. I never noticed it so much when I was still working but now after a good session on my shaving horse I feel all pumped up as if I was lifting weights. Some of you still working younger guys who collect staves might do good to take on an older retired protege to help process your staves. We actually appreciate the workout and have fun doing it.
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Who wants to go to the gym when you can make bows, right?
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Cutting and splitting staves gives me an upper body work out. It used to really bother my back but since I built my splitting stand its helped out a lot.
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I've got a bunch I should be reducing, but I have too many other things higher on the priority list. Cut up blown down trees all day yesterday and today I'm installing a chain link fence... all good exercise I suppose.
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I played football and jumped on the track team in high school, and later roller bladed constantly and played semi-pro paintball during my college days. My upper body was never as chiseled as it is now after hand tooling bows for a couple years. Hand tools are the reason everyone's Grandpa had super-human strength and endurance.
If only my wife was impressed with big muscles instead of tall and lanky. :laugh: On second thought I suppose if she was into muscles, she might not have ended up my wife.
My mother and sister have always struggled with their weight. They buy diet meals, join weight-watchers, buy exercise equipment, and have even hired personal trainers. I invite them for a hike or to shoot the bows at least once a week but to no avail. Apparently, the easiest way to lose weight is to empty all the money out of your purse, which had to be more effective in the days of the silver dollar. Paper money barely registers on the scale so it requires considerable funds at this point in time.
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Osage outlaw-do you mind posting some pictures of your splitting stand? My back would appreciate it
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I have trouble splitting some woods because of my back. I end up using a smaller sledge and just hitting it more times. Some wood I just give up on LOL. Most osage I split is just right, gives me a good workout without killing me.
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Outlaw, I would like to see your stand also, I kind of jury rigged a stand about waist high because of my back but I don't split near as many staves as you do.
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My yard is sloped. I set two upright posts in the ground and two long runners. They are level. I drag logs out with my sled and up to the stand. I roll them out onto the runners and to the end stops. I can split them standing straight up. I have zero back pain after I'm done. It has really helped me out. Another nice thing about it is I can roll the logs back and forth as I split them down both sides. It let's me walk the split evenly down the log.
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r55/clintanders/Mobile%20Uploads/20150528_210959.jpg)
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Coolest thing I have seen this month!
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Ohhhhh man, what I wouldn't give for some osage like that!
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i like the exercise that gets something done or makes something, win win for sure,, I try to use hand tools as much as possible for that reason,, pulling the bow to get it tillered sneaks up on you too,, I have not cut much wood in a while, but that is more than a work out,, those osage logs are can be challenging mentally and physically,, :) they can break you hammer ,, your wedge,,, your chain saw or your truck,, :) really when you get a nice stave in the mail,, 90% of the work has been done for you,,
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i like the exercise that gets something done or makes something, win win for sure,, I try to use hand tools as much as possible for that reason,, pulling the bow to get it tillered sneaks up on you too,, I have not cut much wood in a while, but that is more than a work out,, those osage logs are can be challenging mentally and physically,, :) they can break you hammer ,, your wedge,,, your chain saw or your truck,, :) really when you get a nice stave in the mail,, 90% of the work has been done for you,,
Thats why I never complain about guys charging good money for staves. A lot of work goes into harvesting and splitting. Hell in a lot of cases just finding the tree to cut down can be a lot of work and gas money.
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It sure is tough work when you "soup to nuts" a bow. Jawge
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I hear Ya, I gotta home mountains to get to the good stuff! Then hike back down dragging what I can handle
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Osage Outlaw, that's the ticket right there. I love it. Those are some beautiful osage logs too. Very cool.
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Thanks. I just took advantage of the slope of my yard. I'm able to get the logs about 3' off the ground without ever lifting them. It sure beats crawling on the ground to split them.
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Brilliant, thank you Double O
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Do you start the wedges on the ground,then roll the log up the rack? Unless I tied the log,I'd think I'd be knockin' it off the rack every couple of swings of the sledge. Just wondering how you use it. God bless
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Nope. I start the wedges once they are on the stand. A heavy osage log isn't going to move much.
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I just got done splitting a black locust. You guessed it, kneeling on the ground, Time for another.
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Badger if you was close to me I would let you debark and rough out all of my staves! They tend to kick my butt then I feel it for a couple of days. Patrick
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I removed the bark and sapwood from a well seasoned stave last winter and hated every minute of it. Granted, I haven't had to do it in a few years but it wasn't as fun as I remembered. :-\
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Bow making is my relaxing time... ???
Everything else keeps me fit!
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Good exercises for sure, I get my share, probably need more. :-\ Heck I am so sore this morning I can hardly get around, good thing I can come to work and get some rest. ;) ;D ;D
Pappy
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Thanks. I just took advantage of the slope of my yard. I'm able to get the logs about 3' off the ground without ever lifting them. It sure beats crawling on the ground to split them.
Doesn't that make it hard to split the logs with Em over you head? >:D :laugh:
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I use a ladder ;D
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Humm ,I think that was a short joke, where is the camp ground police. ;) ;D ;D
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I have a pretty good case of carpel tunnel in both hands from working staves over the years. I have a few billets left with the bark on but am done with cutting osage in the future. Famous last words.........
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My yard is sloped. I set two upright posts in the ground and two long runners. They are level. I drag logs out with my sled and up to the stand. I roll them out onto the runners and to the end stops. I can split them standing straight up. I have zero back pain after I'm done. It has really helped me out. Another nice thing about it is I can roll the logs back and forth as I split them down both sides. It let's me walk the split evenly down the log.
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r55/clintanders/Mobile%20Uploads/20150528_210959.jpg)
I really hate you right now. Haha, so cool.
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Clint, that is absolutely genius!!
I have always enjoyed the fact that making bows builds the muscles necessary to shoot bows.