Main Discussion Area > Bows
Cracks?
Pat B:
Russell, are you making if full length, 66" to 68"? If so go out parallel for about 6" then taper it to the tips. Persimmon is a very heavy wood and I think taking it parallel further out will add too much excess physical weight to the outer limbs that will zap the performance. The bow you described is considered "overbuilt" and would be more appropriate with a physically lighter wood. I think both of these style bows could be considered American longbows.
Russ:
Ok pat! Makes sense! The limb is about 1.5 inches wide. I’ll draw the design out and if it hits any of the cracks, I’ll tweak the design!
I wonder if I could actually make a pyramid bow… I think the limb isn’t wide enough at the base to do it well… I just met a bowyer who makes pyramid bows and he made some good ones!
bownarra:
there is a saying that goes something like - Abraham Lincoln — ‘Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.’
Learn to sharpen your drawknife :) and don't work against the grain with an edged tool.....you are asking for trouble.
Pat B:
+1 what bonarra said.
Have you removed the sapwood? It's the heartwood you want to use and by removing the sapwood you may eliminate the "checks"...not cracks. I would saturate the checks with super glue then remove the sapwood and seal the new back. The reason that stave checked is the M/C changed from where I had it stored here and where you kept it. When wood dries it can check if not protected.
I like to use spray shellac and keep it on my work bench all the time. Anytime I expose a new back I seal it with shellac. I've had wood seasoned for 10 years check when a new back ring was exposed and not protected.
Russ:
Well crap… I did not know I was supposed to use the heartwood… I got one of the tips down to 1” thick. I was trying to get it roughed out. I’ll see what I can do.
I don’t see the checks on the back of the stave, which is why I felt ok working it down. I didn’t see the checks till i roughed it out. I really hope I didn’t mess this stave up…
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