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Compression fractures on the back when drying a sapling stave
Tommy D:
I have roughed out what I guess would be termed a “sapling” - it’s about 3 inches in diameter. It is from a tree that is a “known bow wood” here in East Africa … I believe the Latin name is Thespesia danis and it is one of the preferred woods of the Liangulu/ Wata elephant hunters.
I am trying a flat bow version and roughed the wet stave to close to floor tiller and then bent a little reflex (2-3 inches) into it to dry on a form.
I have now taken the outer (backside) bark off and have noticed some horizontal lines like little veins crossing the back of the bow.
As I have not used this wood before I can’t tell if they are just “there” or whether I induced some compression fractures on the bows back when I reflexed it.
My questions are 1) Do frets / compression fractures on a bows back matter?
2) If so could de-crowning get rid of them?
Pat B:
Cracks across the back are deadly to wood bows because in tension it pulls the cracks open. You may try removing that back ring or even decrown the stave.
bradsmith2010:
i dont know, has the bow been strung,, is that the sap wood layer,, is there heart wood,,under it
mmattockx:
--- Quote from: Tommy D on September 30, 2022, 12:22:47 pm ---My questions are
1) Do frets / compression fractures on a bows back matter?
2) If so could de-crowning get rid of them?
--- End quote ---
1) Yes, that would likely blow the first time you bend it any significant amount
2) Maybe
All you can do is remove wood off the back until you get to a clean ring or clean surface if decrowning. If there is enough wood left after that to make a bow, then it should be good to go.
Mark
Tommy D:
Are those definitely frets/ compression fractures?
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