Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Woody roberts on September 14, 2020, 07:10:16 pm

Title: Walnut sapwood?
Post by: Woody roberts on September 14, 2020, 07:10:16 pm

Saxton Pope had said a walnut heart with the sapwood on the back made a pretty decent bow. I cut a 6” walnut a couple weeks ago but it has virtually no heartwood. Just for giggles I roughed a blank out to let it dry faster. 6’ long, 2” wide and 1-1/2” thick. Set it up in the rafters of the shed.

Is this decent bow material? What about heat treat/ fire harden?

Title: Re: Walnut sapwood?
Post by: Pat B on September 14, 2020, 08:54:49 pm

The wood right under the  bark is the best for selfbows. It takes a pretty big black walnut tree to yield heartwood of workable size. Make it wide and long.

Title: Re: Walnut sapwood?
Post by: Del the cat on September 15, 2020, 04:31:32 am

https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-curious-case-of-heartless-walnut.html (https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-curious-case-of-heartless-walnut.html)
I had the same thing...
Del

Title: Re: Walnut sapwood?
Post by: Mafort on September 15, 2020, 05:48:41 am

I have a black walnut stave that’s got a large amount of heart wood and a decent amount of sapwood. I’m sure if I split it right I can get a stave of both heartwood and sapwood and heart wood only. Supposedly these bows look absolutely beautiful but I’ve never seen one made.