Harvesting Bow Staves

[steven.nance]

I'm trying to build a self bow and I'm having trouble getting some proper wood. In reading about harvesting bow wood, I've seen that some folks store their staves for years before making a bow. Is this necessary? I'd like to get a log and get to work as quickly as possible; I'm really itching to start. Would you guys steer away from choosing a log out of a lumber yard? I found a place nearby that's got some hardwood logs. Would it be best to cut a tree myself? Thanks for the help.

[Joec123able]

No it's not nessecary to store your wood for years like some guys do you can rough the bow out To where it's just beginning to bend wait a month or two and then finish it which is what I do most of the time since I dont have the patience some guys do lol

[Zion]

Exactly. Cut a few sticks to mess around with, get used to tillering, etc, then if say u find a really nice stave you can season it longer and u'll have the experience needed to make a good bow.

[steven.nance]

Good tips. Thanks, guys.

[Del the cat]

Give us a clue where you are?
I'm in the UK and I'm sorting out my stash of staves, I have some stuff you could use...but you are prob in US... I dunno I'm not psychic.
Sooner you cut 'em sooner they will season.
Hazel can be seasoned in a month, paint the neds with PVA (old paint whatever) stick it somewhere warm and airy. Rough it out after a few weeks and then let it season a bit more.
If you cutr some timber and split it, you can practice on the 'bad' halfs while  the good is seasoning.
Del

[Marks]

Some folks buys staves online. I've never even looked but you might could get a seasoned stave off of ebay or from one of these nice fellas on here. Some of these guys are pretty generous.

[DarkSoul]

Cut tree yourself.
Seal ends.
Remove bark. Reduce to near-finished dimensions.
Set aside to dry for three weeks, indoors in a dry room.
Build yourself a boardbow in the meantime, to learn how to tiller.
Finish the other bow, since the stave is now dry.
Voila; two finished bows in as little as four weeks time.

[steven.nance]

More good stuff. I am in the states, Del. Thanks for the thought.

Dark Soul, I'm gonna try out that plan; sounds good. What do I use to seal the ends?

[blackhawk]

Last time I checked the states were a pretty big place with lots of different geographies with different n seperate tree species ....soooooo...where are you specifically?...the more detailed info you give the better answers you'll get

[steven.nance]

Western NC.

[Joec123able]

Western NC.

Should be easy to find good bow wood over there

[blackhawk]

Head over to brevard and there's a bunch of already to use seasoned wood over there   ..heck ya might even get some help on how to build it too   ..."one" of the well known members here is close to you

But you got plenty of hardwood forests around you containing lots of decent woods...hickory,oaks,elms,hophornbeam,black locust,etc....n the list goes on..you can do as dark soul says n go cut some hickory saplings n start reducing em down to near bow dimension to quick dry em

[Slackbunny]

I use polyurethane to seal the ends of my logs. It has worked well. But I know others use anything from old paint to wood glue. Anything that you can slap on there to slow down the moisture leakage.

[Pat B]

I'm in Brevard and have well seasoned staves and I will give you a few but you have to come get them.
 Also, on the weekend of July 19,20,21 I'm having Patty's Camp-O-Rama here at my place. It is a weekend of primitive skills, bow building, flint knapping, fire starting, cordage, arrows and more. Free primitive camping, shared food and beverages of all types and music in the evenings.
 Where in WNC are you?

[steven.nance]

That sounds awesome! I'm in Maggie Valley, near Asheville. I should be able to get off work at least that Friday. What all should I bring? For the camp and the staves.