Main Discussion Area > Bows

Hickory stave or fire wood

(1/5) > >>

Lost Oki:
Have been slowly working on my first stave, its hickory.  I had posted pics last month.  Anyway, as I was trimming it down with an ax I had a section following the grain come off and it left a pocket.  I am concerned that if I follow the grain, I am going to end up with a hole.  Plus the grain twisted.  So is this fire wood or do I continue.

bjrogg:
If I understand you correctly you are concerned about the hollow where the core of the tree came out?

It shouldn’t be any problem. That is going to be the belly side of your bow. The side that faces your belly. You don’t have to follow grain there. It will be under compression stress.

The other side of the stave.(the outside of the tree) should be the back of the bow . The side that faces away from you. It will be under tension stress and most woods need to have the same growth ring from one end to the other. Not all woods but most. I don’t have any experience with hickory.

You still have plenty of wood left on your belly side. If the back side (outside of tree) has the original ring from the outside of the tree. (You peel bark and cambium to reveal clean ring) then you’re good for your back.

You might be able to split it lengthwise up the center and get two. I really don’t know how well or poorly hickory splits.

For your side of bow it would be nice to follow grain but I have heard hickory is a pretty forgiving wood as far as following grain goes.

I think if I had it I would try to draw a line up center following grain and then kerf it with skill saw and split it. The kerf will help keep the interlocking grain from tearing sideway and ruining your chances for two staves.

Bjrogg

PS I’m sorry I don’t think I saw your earlier posted pictures.

Pat B:
Looks like an upside down stave to me.

Lost Oki:
Pat B; Upside down stave?  I am not following you could explain?  This is definitely the belly.

Bjrogg; thanks I will continue and hope for the best.  Stave is about 2 inches wide at the ends, not sure there is enough to split again.

bjrogg:
I think Pat is a little confused as I also was.

If you were trying to chase a ring and follow the ring the stave would be upside down for that.

If you are two inches wide yes I would not try to get two staves.

I guess from the picture I thought it was wider.

In that case I would probably try to mark out my sides of my bow on the back of the stave and narrow up too close to those marks.

Then I would mark on the sides to where the limbs were a little thicker than I want finished bow to be and rasp, draw knife, or whatever tool you prefer to get it shaped to those marks.

If it continues to tear out on you then you probably will have to use a different tool. Something like a farriers rasp will not tear out long pieces.

Bjrogg

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page