Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Dan Yager on May 22, 2016, 12:29:38 pm

Title: staves bend skyward
Post by: Dan Yager on May 22, 2016, 12:29:38 pm

I am super new to bow building!  Always wanted to make my own and I did.  The question I have is, why are my staves bending so much during the drying process?  I believe I have osage logs, and when split and bark removed, the back of the wood bends at both ends.  Is there a way to keep the staves straight, or does it matter??  Thanks  Dan

Title: Re: staves bend skyward
Post by: Pat B on May 22, 2016, 12:35:26 pm

Staves will generally reflex or twist as they dry. You can reduce the stave to almost bow size and bind or clamp it to a form to eliminate this or at least most of it. Once the staves is well seasoned you can adjust or correct it with a little heat.

Title: Re: staves bend skyward
Post by: osage outlaw on May 22, 2016, 12:47:03 pm

Osage doesn't reflex that much as it dries unless its a very small stave.  Are you sure you have osage?  Could you post a picture of them?  Reflex is a good thing as long as its not to much.  You could always strap them to a 2x4 as they dry so they stay straight. 

Title: Re: staves bend skyward
Post by: Dan Yager on May 22, 2016, 01:22:58 pm

I really appreciate the input already  Not good at PC stuff so I will throw some pics up (try).  One is the bent stave, the other is a piece I split from the log that was too crooked to work and then there is this bow I just built from the same wood.  I have only seen one osage tree in our county, so a friend brought me two that he thought were osage.  I am not sure really what it is, ha!  I keep hitting browse to attach pics but nothing happens, figures

Title: Re: staves bend skyward
Post by: Dan Yager on May 22, 2016, 02:42:23 pm

I can't figure out how to attach pics, keep getting denied for file size.

Title: Re: staves bend skyward
Post by: Stoker on May 22, 2016, 03:42:00 pm

Email the pictures to yourself it'll resize them automatic.. then save them to your pics.. Additional options.. highlight pic.. no more than 6 pics.. they will be 600 x 400
Thanks Leroy

Title: Re: staves bend skyward
Post by: paulsemp on May 22, 2016, 04:08:19 pm

If you're using your cell phone download an app called photo resizer. It's free and super easy to use

Title: Re: staves bend skyward
Post by: cadet on May 23, 2016, 05:25:40 am

If there're bending towards the back ie reflex, that's a good thing.  Wood bends that way as it loses moisture - more moisture is lost from the wetter outer rings, so it shrinks more than the inner rings.

Title: Re: staves bend skyward
Post by: Urufu_Shinjiro on May 23, 2016, 12:33:11 pm

Guide to posting pics: http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,56806.0.html