Author Topic: dogwood  (Read 3796 times)

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Offline butch

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dogwood
« on: March 31, 2008, 11:24:57 pm »
i got a trunk today , 6"x8' ,fairly straight, mostly heartwood. anyone know if it is a potential bow.  thanks..

Offline Hillbilly

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Re: dogwood
« Reply #1 on: March 31, 2008, 11:30:05 pm »
Dogwood makes good bows, you just don't see too many of them. Pat gave me a stave a while back and I've got it roughed out and clamped on the caul drying right now. I'm looking forward to working on it.
Smoky Mountains, NC

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Offline butch

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Re: dogwood
« Reply #2 on: April 01, 2008, 12:58:55 am »
do i chase a ring or use the whitewood. its about .75" thick , then 4 or5" yellow sapwood.
 should it be wide and long or can i do shorter with handle bending.  ive only built one that didnt blow, set, fractuure.    thanks  butch

Offline Badger

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Re: dogwood
« Reply #3 on: April 01, 2008, 01:14:39 am »
Couple of years ago I was buying every dog wood stave I could get my hands on. makes nice bows, Just like any white wood bow be concious of the moisture as it will take set if not careful. Kind of rminds me of hickory a bit when I am working it. Works real well with a spokeshave. Steve

Offline BryanB

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Re: dogwood
« Reply #4 on: April 01, 2008, 04:21:41 am »
I have heard it makes an excellent bow.  I hope to find out soon.  The buds are just starting to think about flowering in my area.  I usually see the pretty flowers near the end of turkey season.  It is also supose to make a nice bopper for knapping arrow heads.
Bryan

Offline Hillbilly

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Re: dogwood
« Reply #5 on: April 01, 2008, 10:11:49 am »
Use the whitewood right under the bark. I've got mine laid out a fuzz narrower than I would a hickory bow-about 1 5/8" fades to midlimb. It's dense, heavy wood.
Smoky Mountains, NC

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Progress might have been all right once but it's gone on for far too long.


Offline DanaM

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Re: dogwood
« Reply #7 on: April 01, 2008, 04:13:21 pm »
jamie I think their talking about flowering dogwood
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Offline Hillbilly

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Re: dogwood
« Reply #8 on: April 01, 2008, 04:31:36 pm »
Jamie, nope, that's what you want for arrows. Here's what you want for bows:



Smoky Mountains, NC

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Progress might have been all right once but it's gone on for far too long.

Offline michbowguy

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Re: dogwood
« Reply #9 on: April 01, 2008, 07:40:07 pm »
hmm, ive had no problem with the sappling bows i get from the older shrubs...
i just have to wrap up the limbs at top and botom and glue the pi$$ out of them as they like to check badly.
mbg

Offline Hillbilly

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Re: dogwood
« Reply #10 on: April 02, 2008, 06:08:28 pm »
Jamie, I bet the shrub dogwoods would make a great bow if you can find a piece big enough. I use silky dogwood for arrows sometimes, and like you said, it checks badly if you peel the bark too soon.
Smoky Mountains, NC

NeolithicHillbilly@gmail.com

Progress might have been all right once but it's gone on for far too long.