Slinging.org Forum - Bow Making Challenge - Wait, you can't make a bow with that...

joe_meadmaker

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Bow Making Challenge - Wait, you can't make a bow with that...
Apr 29^th, 2020 at 12:37pm

In another topic there was some discussion of making a bow with what could be considered an "unconventional" wood. The topic is here if anyone needs it: http://slinging.org/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1587833492.

And a challenge to make such a bow was born.

So what are everyone's thoughts on this? Should we just plan to use a wood that generally isn't used for bow making? Other materials?

I think I'm going to take another look at Tim Baker's bow wood list and see what's in the not-so-great bow wood group that I might be able to find. Initially I think I'll plan for a linen backing. I've used it before and am familiar with it.

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Morphy Slinging.org Moderator Offline Checkmate Posts: 8239	Re: Bow Making Challenge - Wait, you can't make a bow with that... Reply #1 - Apr 29^th, 2020 at 1:07pm Here’s my plan. Poplar 58-62” sinew backed 2 inch wide limbs at mid limb, Ipe and Padouk riser, high wrist grip, arrow shelf and leather over the handle. It’s coming, just a matter of time. 😀
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joe_meadmaker Slinging.org Administrator Offline Slinging Ice is Cool! Posts: 3716 PA, USA	Re: Bow Making Challenge - Wait, you can't make a bow with that... Reply #2 - Apr 29^th, 2020 at 4:32pm I've been doing some searching online. It might be difficult to find something the right size. I might go with a regular 2X4 as a starting point. Those are usually pine or something similar.
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vetryan15 Slinging.org Moderator Offline Slinging Rocks! Posts: 1915 Northern Maine Gender:	Re: Bow Making Challenge - Wait, you can't make a bow with that... Reply #3 - Apr 30^th, 2020 at 4:52am Eventually i will join in, but not till i get a few bows under ky belt. But i just upped myself. Yesterday i went out and tried my Alaskan chainsaw mill for the 1st time, i can now cut slabs of anysizeup to 10 inch thickness
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Caldou Funditor Offline Moving the world... rock by rock. Posts: 779 Picardie, France	Re: Bow Making Challenge - Wait, you can't make a bow with that... Reply #4 - Apr 30^th, 2020 at 9:58am Currently making one from a bed slat (not sure of my translation here, the wooden thing you put your mattress on... ) A bit short, too thick (for now) and it will be weak but it will work :p
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joe_meadmaker Slinging.org Administrator Offline Slinging Ice is Cool! Posts: 3716 PA, USA	Re: Bow Making Challenge - Wait, you can't make a bow with that... Reply #5 - Apr 30^th, 2020 at 11:41am Ha! That's perfect Caldou! You've got the first one going. Let us know how things turn out.
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Caldou Funditor Offline Moving the world... rock by rock. Posts: 779 Picardie, France	Re: Bow Making Challenge - Wait, you can't make a bow with that... Reply #6 - Apr 30^th, 2020 at 3:01pm I already have 2 made from this stuff, but using 2 slats with an handle ^^
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Morphy Slinging.org Moderator Offline Checkmate Posts: 8239	Re: Bow Making Challenge - Wait, you can't make a bow with that... Reply #7 - Apr 30^th, 2020 at 3:07pm @Caldou That's cool! Any idea what the bed slats are made from? @Joe_Meadmaker- If you can make one out of a pine 2x4 that would be awesome. Planning on backing it at all?
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joe_meadmaker Slinging.org Administrator Offline Slinging Ice is Cool! Posts: 3716 PA, USA	Re: Bow Making Challenge - Wait, you can't make a bow with that... Reply #8 - Apr 30^th, 2020 at 6:21pm Yep, definitely backing it. I still have a big piece of linen that I used for backing a bow before. It's not very pretty, but it does the job. Maybe I'll dye it.
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Caldou Funditor Offline Moving the world... rock by rock. Posts: 779 Picardie, France	Re: Bow Making Challenge - Wait, you can't make a bow with that... Reply #9 - Apr 30^th, 2020 at 6:29pm @Morphy : Yes, I'm pretty sure it is made of wood :p Once the lock-down is really over here, I may go to the store to see if they say which kind of wood it is (they don't on Internet...)
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Morphy Slinging.org Moderator Offline Checkmate Posts: 8239	Re: Bow Making Challenge - Wait, you can't make a bow with that... Reply #10 - Apr 30^th, 2020 at 9:57pm Caldou wrote on Apr 30^th, 2020 at 6:29pm: @Morphy : Yes, I'm pretty sure it is made of wood :p
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AncientCraftwork

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Re: Bow Making Challenge - Wait, you can't make a bow with that...
Reply #11 - May 7^th, 2020 at 4:19pm

Could Laurel work as a bow wood?

Edit: I actually meant Cherry Laurel which is a different tree
Just read on wikipedia

Quote:

Cherry laurel wood contains a lot of water. It tends to gum up blades while cutting. It tends to split and distort while drying.

So I guess not a good bowwood

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Morphy

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Re: Bow Making Challenge - Wait, you can't make a bow with that...
Reply #12 - May 7^th, 2020 at 5:09pm

AncientCraftwork wrote on May 7^th, 2020 at 4:19pm:

Could Laurel work as a bow wood?

Edit: I actually meant Cherry Laurel which is a different tree
Just read on wikipedia

[quote]Cherry laurel wood contains a lot of water. It tends to gum up blades while cutting. It tends to split and distort while drying.

I wouldn’t discount it totally based on that. Lilac is often rated as one of the best bow woods out there but tends to be a major pain to find a decent piece and season. It will pretty much do everything but dry straight and clean.

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AncientCraftwork

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Re: Bow Making Challenge - Wait, you can't make a bow with that...
Reply #13 - May 8^th, 2020 at 4:45am

Morphy wrote on May 7^th, 2020 at 5:09pm:

AncientCraftwork wrote on May 7^th, 2020 at 4:19pm:

Could Laurel work as a bow wood?

Edit: I actually meant Cherry Laurel which is a different tree
Just read on wikipedia

[quote]Cherry laurel wood contains a lot of water. It tends to gum up blades while cutting. It tends to split and distort while drying.

I wouldn’t discount it totally based on that. Lilac is often rated as one of the best bow woods out there but tends to be a major pain to find a decent piece and season. It will pretty much do everything but dry straight and clean.

Apparently Laurel and Cherry Laurel are sometimes confused. Scary because the first has many edibles while the second is very toxic. I saw someone on the net making a good bow out of standard laurel but not out of cherry laurel. Either way they are not related trees. I think I am not gonna risk it for now.

Right now I am collecting maple, ash and hawthorn staves. Meanwhile I am busy putting together a shaving horse and getting a good ol drawknife from somewhere.

I think I caught the bowmaking bug. The real beauty of harvesting a sustainable material and making something useful out of it dawned on me recently. Plus it's just one more reason to be outside

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Morphy

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Re: Bow Making Challenge - Wait, you can't make a bow with that...
Reply #14 - May 8^th, 2020 at 7:52am

Lol I’m excited for you bro it’s one pastime you will never regret picking up.

Shaving horses are really cool. If you ever are looking at a more traditional (or less traditional I guess?? Wink

) vise I highly recommend this.

https://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Types_of_Tools/Vises/Guitar_Repair_Vise.ht...

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