Main Discussion Area > Bows
hickory in high humidity
WhistlingBadger:
--- Quote from: bassman211 on May 27, 2023, 10:28:53 am ---I would bring 1 good Osage bow for back up just in case.
--- End quote ---
If only I had one! Osage is even harder to get than hickory around here.
The desiccant pack idea is interesting. Might look into that. Thanks, guys!
bradsmith2010:
i read Jay Massey would keep bows in tube as suggested,,
Im sure you could trade for osage stave in the future,,
maybe a candle in a small heat box,,???
WhistlingBadger:
So, are all white woods affected thus by moisture, or is hickory unique? I'm thinking of making a chokecherry bow eventually, and I'm also interested in trying birch and ash. (that's about it for local bow woods)
superdav95:
--- Quote from: WhistlingBadger on May 29, 2023, 09:04:29 am ---So, are all white woods affected thus by moisture, or is hickory unique? I'm thinking of making a chokecherry bow eventually, and I'm also interested in trying birch and ash. (that's about it for local bow woods)
--- End quote ---
WB, I would think so. It’s been my experience anyway with the white woods I’ve used. This being said I have not made a bow from chokecherry yet. I think I have some black cherry on my property and cut a sapling of it to dry for a hollow limb bow down the road when I get brave. Not sure how close black cherry is to yours but I would treat it like a white wood build. Hickory does seem to take on moisture a bit more then others I think. I’ve made a number of heat treated and non heat treated hickory bows and it’s all the difference. A deep heat treatment on hickory will not just be a good bow but a great bow. As far as moisture absorption it’s minimal after heat treating properly. I feel that heat gun can get fairly good results if done right and the set up is good and consistent but can be more shallow of a treatment. The deep heat treatment from a bed of coals of radiant heat is the ticket. Moisture is still going to happen but to much less degree this way. I don’t worry about it after I seal them up as they don’t lose much weight and still shoot good. I would suspect most white woods are gonna have similar heat treatment results to varying degrees. I hear guys do make wonderful bow out though. I would probably make it fairly long say around 66-69” and go 1 3/4” at widest for half the limb length then narrow to tips. If it was me I would do a heat treat too but would not do as deep a treatment like I would hickory. I have a buddy that has some ash for me the was just felled. I’m excited about it actually as it looks like great stuff. I hear ash is great bow wood. I’m looking forward to getting my hands on some. :).
Keep us posted. Cheers
Pat B:
I believe that hickory is one of the most hygroscopic woods meaning it readily takes on moisture but slowly releases it.
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