Author Topic: Snake bow  (Read 1428 times)

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Offline Sixkiller

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Snake bow
« on: November 05, 2011, 08:19:24 pm »
I have seen pictures of snakey bows. I understand following the growth rings on the back of the bow. Which can be wavy, but what makes it wavy side to side like a snake? I have no clue. I have been reading how to make bows for about a year now, and that is the only thing that has got me stumped.

Offline tetaxidermy

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Re: Snake bow
« Reply #1 on: November 05, 2011, 08:22:04 pm »
It is from the natural grain of the stave.
"Andy Dufresne: Get busy living, or get busy dying."
The Shawshank Redemption

Offline ken75

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Re: Snake bow
« Reply #2 on: November 05, 2011, 08:24:42 pm »
sixkiller there is growth rings and grain . grain runs up the tree and shows up either straight , or a rotating pattern , or it can go back and forth up the tree. snakey bows follow the grain back and forth as it goes up the tree. its important to follow , if you cut the bow out straight you cut through the wandering grain

Offline osage outlaw

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Re: Snake bow
« Reply #3 on: November 05, 2011, 09:23:25 pm »
Look at a knot in a piece of wood.  The grain flows around it similar to water flowing around a rock in a stream.  When laying out the bow, you have to pay attention to the grain lines, if they curve left and right, then your bow layout lines should do the same.  It will make the bow stronger and less likely to break.
I started out with nothin' and I still got most of it left

Offline Sixkiller

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Re: Snake bow
« Reply #4 on: November 06, 2011, 12:09:08 am »
Cool. Thanks for the info. couldn't figure it out.