Cherry?

[Kegan]

I've seen a couple really nice cherry bows here and there (like Tim Baker's and Orcbow's), but am still wary of it- so I never botherd cutting any. Today, however, we were getting firewood and cut a seven foot, straight, branchless section of cherry with very little sapwood on it. If I back it, would it be worth "stealing"? Could I manage to get a strong 75# longbow out of it?

[1/2primitive]

With a strong, lowish bend strength backing (such as rawhide), I think that it would be a good choice. Just make it wide enough for the draw weight.
     Sean

[orcbow]

I have seen hundreds and hundreds of pieces of cherry over the last 10 years and I can tell you that this wood has a wide range of "flavors" or variations.  My belief is that if you find a piece that has extra density and exceptionally straight/non-wavy grain, it will help greatly. I'm not sure that 75 pounds can be reached, but I did make a 58# one, with only 1 1/2 inches of set. I would add that making the bow extra long may also help. Good luck. Cherry is such pretty wood.

[DanaM]

Agree with orcbow 75# is asking to much of cherry.

[El Destructo]

          60 max .....is what I would shoot for on Cherry.....and thats with a nice Hickory ....or at least Rawhide Backing

[Hickoryswitch]

They cherry I have drying seems very light. The heartwood has turned a sorta peach color. I think this may be an exceptionally light piece of cherry though. Maybe if you toasted the heck outa the belly then  backed it.

[adb]

I think there are so many other better woods to make a 75# bow. Don't get me wrong... cherry is good bow wood, and I've made several backed cherry bows, but not 75#. I think it's asking too much.

[Badbill]

If you can't achieve the poundage you want with the Cherry wood, don't let it go, do something with it and trade it. On here I'm sure you could get another stave of some wood that will make the #75 mark. Good luck with it.

[Kegan]

Okay- I guess I'll save it, but not for one of my bows. I've heard good things of backed cherry bows- quick and light- and I think I'd bea able to make a good bow for someone else with it. Thanks for the input .

[koan]

Kegan, dont be a quitter ...We destroy bow building myths everyday here! (ofcourse I aint never built a cherry bow ) Give her a go....Brian

[sailordad]

woa wait now,if he wants to quit on it and give it to someone else. well i think you should let him and if you dont know who to give it to well
i did just stickup for ya now.
kegan just kidding there,like koan said give it a try.dont ya want to be a myth buster?

[Marc St Louis]

The problem with Cherry is that it has low elasticity and will fret at the drop of a dime.  I've made many longbows around 50# and you need to keep the belly flat.  Not a wood I would recommend for a heavy draw weight.  I even tried a sinew backing once to try and get a heavy draw weight and it still chrysaled

[mullet]

  What Marc said, except the only cherry I've tried is Black Cherry. The ones I've got to stay together were 1 3/4 to 2" wide at the fades and were under 40# backed with silk or rawhide.

[Kegan]

I think I'll save the stave and make a little beauty queen or two for someone. Use some of the gnarled hickory and elm I have for monster bows .

[rosa]

orcbow says:

I would add that making the bow extra long may also help. Good luck

kegan says:

get a strong 75# longbow out of it?

I thinking about a Holmegård, done the "wrong way" i.e. like the original. Me and my son cut a cherry in the garden today. What do you people think of that?