AGHHHHHHHHGH!!!!!!

[Pat B]

I can see working a green stave down to floor tiller but very little stress is put on a stave just getting to floor tiller. I've never heard of anyone working a green stave any farther than that.

[Taxus brevifolia]

Well, if you check out the guys who make 'em out of juniper and incense cedar, you'll hear about a whole bunch of people who work them green.

[Pat B]

Two things that cause excess set it too much moisture and over stressing a stave. Working a green stave does both.
 Why do the folks that work with juniper and incense cedar only work it green? What is the reasoning behind it?

[Morgan]

I would think that working a stave to a finished or near finished state while green is a bad idea regardless of species or who makes a practice of it. The only reasoning I can think of is that there is a dependency on sinew to overcome set, and it may, but it would be a better bow without the set in the beginning.

[Taxus brevifolia]

Yes, I understand, it's counterintuitive, knowing what we know about yew and osage.

But juniper dries pretty fast. Depending on humidity, 3-4 weeks after staving out the log, it's quite dry. Not like yew at all.

Here's a youtube link to vid from a guy who works with a lot of juniper.
https://youtu.be/K_NyArp2rDE

Jump to 3:40, he talks about working it green.

[Eric Krewson]

A tillering gizmo tells you where to remove wood to get your limbs bending correctly. With a gizmo you won't make any 20# bows when you want a 50# bow because your wood removal is much more precise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqvwUqn-EFQ&t=1

[Taxus brevifolia]

Thanks Eric!!! I'm definitely checking that out

[Taxus brevifolia]

Eric you're a genius, thank you. I have more hope now

[Pat B]

What is the R/H where you are and what was the M/C of your stave as you worked it?

[DC]

Yes, I understand, it's counterintuitive, knowing what we know about yew and osage.

But juniper dries pretty fast. Depending on humidity, 3-4 weeks after staving out the log, it's quite dry. Not like yew at all.

Here's a youtube link to vid from a guy who works with a lot of juniper.
https://youtu.be/K_NyArp2rDE

Jump to 3:40, he talks about working it green.

Great set of videos. Love your shop Chuck, I would be right at home there

[Taxus brevifolia]

What is the R/H where you are and what was the M/C of your stave as you worked it?

RH 16% today. That's not unusual.

M/C...hmm moisture content? I've got no idea. I never weighed it to start. But like I said, its light as a feather now, and it ain't gettin' no drier.

[bradsmith2010]

ok,,,I may have missed some post, I admit I skimmed over it,, but,,, I think putting sinew on it would be a good idea,, it will give you practice at that skill, and it will add weight to the bow,, making the bow twice your draw would be a good start,, it may not be enough to hunt with but it will give you a good idea how sinew works,, just think of it as a learning experience and dont be so hard on yourself,,,you will get the hang of it as you go,,

[Taxus brevifolia]

Thanks Brad! I'm back up on that horse.

[ohma2]

You dont leave your wood lay on the bare ground like that all the time do you? hate to see good wood go to waste.

[Taxus brevifolia]

It's not on the ground. It's on wood above the ground, and it's covered with a tarp most of the time, and that whole thing is under a canopy.