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Author Topic: Cherry???  (Read 5424 times)

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CTBowyer

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Cherry???
« on: June 17, 2007, 01:41:38 am »
Hey guys, I need some advice.

I can get cherry staves very easily where I live and I was wondering should I use sapwood only, heartwood, or a sap/heart combo like a yew bow?  I know I'll have to back it with rawhide or something (as it says in vol. II of the bible)  but I was wondering what part of the wood makes the better bow.  Any thoughts?
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Offline Badger

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Re: Cherry???
« Reply #1 on: June 17, 2007, 02:32:30 am »
Kevin, I have made several cherry bows but never tried the sapwood, I have a feeling it would be good but not talking from experience. I have a couplr cherry trees lined up to take down next time I visit mississippi and plan to give the sapwood a try. Steve
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Offline DanaM

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Re: Cherry???
« Reply #2 on: June 17, 2007, 07:46:14 am »
I think leaving a few growth rings of sap wood would look real nice with the the color contrast.
Other than not not sure if it really matters if your backing it.
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"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."

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CTBowyer

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Re: Cherry???
« Reply #3 on: June 17, 2007, 10:36:40 am »
Well, guess I'll have to experiment then.  When I get the bows done I'll have to post pics and stats.  Now I'm off to the back yard to clear those trees...
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Cherry???
« Reply #4 on: June 17, 2007, 11:33:39 am »
I've built a few cherry bows and used the wood under the bark as the back. The bows came out mostly sapwood with a bit of heartwood in the handle. If you follow Paul Comstock's advise for white wood bows you can make a good bow with it. I didn't use any backing on the bows I built and if the wood is collected and cured properly and the proper design is used, there should be no reason for a backing unless you just wanted some extra insurance.
   I have handled black walnut the same way with good results.    Pat
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline adb

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Re: Cherry???
« Reply #5 on: June 18, 2007, 11:30:17 am »
Hi,
I've used cherry and walnut sapwood, and backed them with 1/8" quarter sawn hickory. They take a bit more set than osage, but very shootable bows. Make them 1 1/2" to 2" at the fades, >66", <55#, and you'll be fine. The cherry is nice... it's easy wood to work, and straight grained. Good luck!
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