Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Billinthedesert on September 18, 2016, 11:37:41 am
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Was up grouse hunting in the Oregon Cascades a couple of days ago and, with vine maple abundant, kept seeing staves everywhere.
Do those who often use vine maple have a strong preference regarding tension/compression orientation of the potential stave, or are you more focused on simply harvesting a stave that will give you useful and reasonable reflex? I understand the bark is more easily peeled in spring.
I was re-reading Gordon's incredibly informative vine maple build-along and have a terrible jones ...
8)
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The skyward facing tension side is what you want for bows. Cut it anytime, the bark comes off easy in spring but VM bark is very thin, and peels like a potato when dry
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Thanks Wizardgoat!
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I try to pick vertically growing VM... The tension side works as wizardgoat said, but you have to mark the stave so youremember. The tension side on a more horizontally growing stave is more prone to having branches and tension wood is more prone to bending as it dries. So, for a beginner, vertically growing staves may be a safer bet.
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I try to pick vertically growing VM... The tension side works as wizardgoat said, but you have to mark the stave so youremember. The tension side on a more horizontally growing stave is more prone to having branches and tension wood is more prone to bending as it dries. So, for a beginner, vertically growing staves may be a safer bet.
I could not agree more, tension staves are superior in many ways, but that's only if you are looking for high octane staves.