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leave the bark on?

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billmac:
Crazy question.  For thin barked trees like birch, I wonder if you could actually leave the bark on the stave? 

Pat B:
I read about leaving some bark as a backing on hickory bows(Primitive Archer Vol1 Issue2, I think). The otter bark was removed and the inner bark was left. I believe the outer bark on most trees would be too brittle and could crack under tension and that would be desaster for a bow. Which kind of birch are you talking about? Paper (canoe) birch would probably be flexable enough but sweet birch would crack.    Pat

Coo-wah-chobee:
........LIke Pat said....bob

Pappy:
I tried leaving it on a Hickory limb bow and it looked cool for a while then it started cracking as it seasoned, so now I take it off.Never tried Birch. :)
   Pappy

DBernier:
Pappy, even the canoe birch bark after 3 or 4 years dries out and becomes  brittle as to tearing it horizontally. I remember my birch bark canoe 25 years ago was very tough and flexable but after some time it was not. Tough yes, flexable not so much. I guess what I am saying is eventually it will dry to the point on the bow it would develop horizontal cracks in it. I have a couple of sheets (4ft x 4ft) that are 5 years old that crack when you look at them. Are you trying to make a bow from Birch? If so why not take the bark off and then glue a thin section back on. I've seen Vinson do something similar. I am going to do something similar on a long bow with birch bark and another bark or stain job.

Dick

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