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hello and a bow wood question
arthur_the_great:
i'm interested in juniper because it grows like a weed out here almost everyone is allergic to it with varying degrees and i dont get out much
dont think that my parents are going up to dallas any time soon so i cant take him up on his offer id love but cant sorry :'(
gstoneberg:
OK. If you're going to use juniper, look for a clump of them and go to the center to try and find one about 2"-3" in diameter with almost no branches. Then cut it and clamp it to a board or workbench to keep it from warping as it dries. Patrick (jackcrafty) is an expert on juniper bows. Hopefully he'll be along to help. I have a pole like that I haven't made into a bow yet, so I've helped about all I can.
If you and your parents get up to Dallas, PM me and I'll give you an osage stave.
George
M-P:
Howdy, I've felt a little overwhelmed by all the votes for anything but juniper. I have not worked with Ashe juniper, but I have made and like bows of ERC. rocky mountain and western juniper. I'm also a believer in "using what you have", especially if that means the difference between getting started, instead of putting things off while waiting for the "better"wood.
I hope Arthur finds a great stave and is successful on his first bow. Realistically most of us break a bow or two (or more) when we are first starting.
I still say go for it. The hard part will be finding a straight, knot free stave. If Ashe is anything like the junipers I've harvested. the best trees will be found in areas where shade makes them struggle to reach the light. The center of a dense grove, or the bottom of a north facing bank are places that have worked for me. Another possibility is a a horizontal branch from a tree growing out in the open. Sometimes the lower branches are quite straight and long. The worst that can happen is that Arthur has to walk around the country side looking for the right tree. And if he has a tree ID guide, he might find one of the yellow trees, too. Ron
Ron
JackCrafty:
Arthur sent me PM and I gave him some advice about using juniper.
Personally, ashe juniper is one of my favorites and I'm glad I live where people consider it trash wood. ;D
arthur_the_great:
my little sister just broke the stave i cut down and dried and roughed out and ready to start tillering :'(
now I'm gonna have to start looking for another tree to cut down that will be awhile :(
i guess in the mean time if my dads going to home depot I'll tag along and search through the red oak 1x2s cause i found a few good tutorials on using them to make bows
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