Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Denham Archer on September 22, 2008, 06:09:17 pm

Title: ? for New England bowyers, or any who might know.
Post by: Denham Archer on September 22, 2008, 06:09:17 pm

I will need to have a maple tree taken down that is hanging over my garage.  It is about 18" thick.  Every autumn the leaves change to yellow (mostly), some orange also, no red.  Would this type of maple be sturdy enough to make bows with?  I don't know what kind of maple tree it is.

Any help about what kind of maple it could be would be appreciated.  I live in south eastern Massachusetts, if that helps.   

Title: Re: ? for New England bowyers, or any who might know.
Post by: NTProf on September 22, 2008, 07:48:53 pm

I live in Merrimac, MA, near Amesbury. Can you post a picture of the leaves? If it is sugar maple it would be great wood for making a bow.

Title: Re: ? for New England bowyers, or any who might know.
Post by: Denham Archer on September 22, 2008, 09:21:37 pm

Quote from: NTProf on September 22, 2008, 07:48:53 pm

I live in Merrimac, MA, near Amesbury. Can you post a picture of the leaves? If it is sugar maple it would be great wood for making a bow.

Thanks for the reply.  I'll try to get a picture posted tomorrow.

Title: Re: ? for New England bowyers, or any who might know.
Post by: sailordad on September 22, 2008, 09:38:20 pm

from the sounds of it, it is probably sugar maple. i say this as im looking at my neighbors sugar maple,with leaves that are changing
to yellow and yes the occasional orange thrown in too.

ifn it is sugar maple, it will make some fine bows ;)

 
                                                                                       tim

Title: Re: ? for New England bowyers, or any who might know.
Post by: Ryano on September 23, 2008, 10:46:12 am

A picture of the bark as well as the leaves would be helpful. Any kind of hard maple will make a decent bow as long as its not soft maple you should be ok.

Title: Re: ? for New England bowyers, or any who might know.
Post by: JW_Halverson on September 23, 2008, 10:56:09 am

I just happen to have a piece of fiercely curled maple sitting int the corner of the shop.  Anyone ever make a backed board bow out of curly maple?  I have resisted this temptation because something tells me the curls would not structurally support the compression.

-John

Title: Re: ? for New England bowyers, or any who might know.
Post by: DanaM on September 23, 2008, 10:59:05 am

I believe El Destructo has a birdseye maple backed bow. Drop him a line and ask.

Title: Re: ? for New England bowyers, or any who might know.
Post by: ballista on September 27, 2008, 12:38:45 am

 are sugar maple and silver maple similar? my neighbor had his tree trimmed, i snagged a 13 foot log of it, maybe 5 or 6 inches long, im pretty sure it could yeild a few bows, not totally sure though