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leave the bark on?
GregB:
I've got a couple of what I call swamp birches in my front yard. Went out while ago and pealed some bark off. I think it would look good on the back of a bow (possibly osage) if you could get it to lay flat enough and sealed in. I'm afraid that it might crack and cause problems unless you put a hundred or so coats of tru-oil on it. ;D
Pat B:
I have used paper birch bark as a backing but it was a single, paper thin layer. I used it to cover a sinew backing. I believe it was used on Asiatic composit bows as a limb covering for moisture protection.
When I read about leaving the inner bark of hickory on as a backing was just a short while ago. Now, I will have to wait until the trees go dormant again to collect a stave.
Greg, Your swamp birch is probably River Birct(Betula niger). It has paper like bark but it only flakes off in small pieces. Paper birch is simular but is in continuous sheets. Pat
GregB:
That sounds right Pat, I wouldn't be able to get one section long enough to place on one entire limb...would take multiple sections. I thought if you could get it to lay down and really pour on the tru-oil to the back you might could get it to work. Just didn't know about it potentially cracking over time.
Hillbilly:
Greg, I've been thinking about the river birch bark lately, too. It peels off in really thin layers, should work.
George Tsoukalas:
I take the inner bark of usually but depending on my mood I'll leave bits here and there for decoration. The stuff is very stringy and doesn't want to be there really. In time, if the pieces are too large, it peels off on its own. Jawge
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