Author Topic: Found some Mulberry staves today.  (Read 8283 times)

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Offline cowboy

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  • Paul Wolfe. Springtown, TX
Found some Mulberry staves today.
« on: February 23, 2008, 11:15:50 pm »
Just out messin around. Me and dad took a drive out behind the lake where we used to catch crappie all the time. I'ts all silted in now. Went for a little hike and started noticing all the Mulberry growing around. Lot's of water and shade with tall cottonwoods around - they all were generally straight trying to get some sun.
 Cut three with my handy dandy bow saw I keep in the toolbox for just such occasions :). One's a little crooked but think I can fix that when the time comes. Amazed at how easy they split, you could just about get a wedge working on one end and split them the rest of the way with your hands - almost. Looks like some good wood to work, can't wait till they dry.
 Just thought I'd share...

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When you come upon a track or trail you do not know, follow it to the point of knowing.

Offline John K

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Re: Found some Mulberry staves today.
« Reply #1 on: February 23, 2008, 11:45:41 pm »
Sure rub it in  :P

Nice haul  ;D
The only way to fail is to never start !

Offline Justin Snyder

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Re: Found some Mulberry staves today.
« Reply #2 on: February 24, 2008, 12:41:54 am »
Now thats a guy with priorities.  ;D Good job.  Justin
Everything happens for a reason, sometimes the reason is you made a bad decision.


SW Utah

Offline nugget

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Re: Found some Mulberry staves today.
« Reply #3 on: February 24, 2008, 12:45:21 am »
Wow ! Very prosperous hiking trip
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intentions of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body. But rather to slide in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming....WOW WHAT A RIDE!!

Offline carpenter374

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Re: Found some Mulberry staves today.
« Reply #4 on: February 24, 2008, 02:52:34 am »
Although i havent tried it ive heard mullberry makes a good english longbow
"Those who would sacrifice their freedom for safety will find that they will inherit neither." -Ben Franklin     

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Offline Pat B

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Re: Found some Mulberry staves today.
« Reply #5 on: February 24, 2008, 03:09:30 am »
You done good, Paul. Mulberry is as good as almost any bow wood. Make your bow about 10% bigger(longer and wider) than an osage bow. I have made mulberry bows using some sap wood and some heart wood with good success. A mulberry bow will be a bit thicker than an osage bow and with the white wood left on, it will be even thicker...and may take a bit more set...but it makes very good bows.    Pat
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline DanaM

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Re: Found some Mulberry staves today.
« Reply #6 on: February 24, 2008, 08:31:56 am »
Dang Paul how much wood does one guy need ::)
"Prosperity is a way of living and thinking, and not just money or things. Poverty is a way of living and thinking, and not just a lack of money or things."

Manistique, MI

Offline Hillbilly

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Re: Found some Mulberry staves today.
« Reply #7 on: February 24, 2008, 12:06:02 pm »
Nice haul, Paul. I like mulberry.
Smoky Mountains, NC

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Progress might have been all right once but it's gone on for far too long.

Offline cowboy

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  • Paul Wolfe. Springtown, TX
Re: Found some Mulberry staves today.
« Reply #8 on: February 24, 2008, 12:24:56 pm »
It never ends DanaM ;D - gotta have priorities like Justin says, gathering raw materials before all else ::).
 Been thinking about getting an ELB started carpenter, just for the experience I guess. Might save one of those long staves for that.
 Glad you shared those tips Pat, I was thinking in the back of my mind - longer, wider but that's about it. I've already roughed one out at 66" long and two and a quarter wide, may be a little short..
When you come upon a track or trail you do not know, follow it to the point of knowing.

Offline Sidewinder

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Re: Found some Mulberry staves today.
« Reply #9 on: February 24, 2008, 12:37:42 pm »
Paul, Those like like beauties. You should be able to make some real good shooters out of em.  Danny
"You know a tree by the fruit it bears"   God

Offline Pat B

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Re: Found some Mulberry staves today.
« Reply #10 on: February 24, 2008, 01:56:59 pm »
Paul, 66" is OK and you can go a bit under 2" and still be OK. Being that mulberry weighs physically less than osage you can match their performance with a slightly bigger mulberry bow.   Pat
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline mullet

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Re: Found some Mulberry staves today.
« Reply #11 on: February 24, 2008, 02:35:04 pm »
  Paul, it depends on what kind of Mulberry you cut. If it's Red Mulberry I treat it just like Osage. Same dimensions and I havn't had a problem with excessive set. Just cure them good.
Lakeland, Florida
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Offline artcher1

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Re: Found some Mulberry staves today.
« Reply #12 on: February 24, 2008, 03:28:55 pm »
Nice haul there Cowboy! One of my favorite bow woods also. Diameter of the logs looks perfect for mulberry also. -ART B

Offline david w.

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Re: Found some Mulberry staves today.
« Reply #13 on: February 24, 2008, 03:45:42 pm »
vrey nice good haul
These pretzels are making me thirsty.

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CHUCKER

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Re: Found some Mulberry staves today.
« Reply #14 on: February 24, 2008, 05:24:03 pm »
 ;)Thats not fair! You don't even have 2 feet of snow to drag them through..