Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: 0ri9ine11 on June 03, 2018, 05:49:21 am

Title: Drawbacks in woodquality if cut in summer?
Post by: 0ri9ine11 on June 03, 2018, 05:49:21 am

Hey folks!
I do know that if you cut wood in spring or summer its gonna be hella wet and needs longer to dry. But looking at a sapling bow, where I intend to use the first ring under the bark, does it make the bowwood worse in terms of breaking? I dunno the english terms but in germany we call the two types of wood that a growth ring consist of "early wood" and "late wood". Now if I cut the sap in june? does that mean that there is "early wood" on the back? Is that a Problem?

Title: Re: Drawbacks in woodquality if cut in summer?
Post by: Marc St Louis on June 03, 2018, 06:51:34 am

If you are cutting a whitewood then when you cut will make a difference.  In Spring when the sap is running the sapwood is gorged with water.  This makes drying the wood a bit tricky since so much water needs to evaporate the wood can actually develop drying checks even with the bark left on.  Cutting wood in early or mid Summer means the tree has not finished laying down a full thickness growth ring, this can weaken the back of the bow.  Best to cut in late Summer/late Fall or late Winter/early Spring