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Author Topic: First time trying elm  (Read 397 times)

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Offline Muskyman

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First time trying elm
« on: May 05, 2025, 06:08:17 pm »
Long bow is done, a first try with that type of bow so I figured I’d try another first.
Have a few elm staves that are a couple years old. This one might be a challenge. One limb is reflexed the other deflexed. Big hump in the handle area where I guess there was a knot. Got it shaped and am trying to bend reflex into the deflexed limb.  Still clamped up till tomorrow then I’ll see what I need to do after that. Probably going to have to do some more bending on it..
It was just bending a little when I was trying to floor tiller it. I’ll try and put a few pictures up over the next few days and maybe get some probably needed advice..
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Offline Mad Max

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Re: First time trying elm
« Reply #1 on: May 05, 2025, 10:42:08 pm »
Watching     :)
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I would rather fail trying to do something above my means, Than to succeed at something beneath my means.

Offline Muskyman

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Re: First time trying elm
« Reply #2 on: May 06, 2025, 12:33:03 pm »
I got the initial reflex out of it and am trying to match the natural reflex in the opposite limb. Heated again and back on the form. Also had a little twist in it and hopefully that will go away too. I’m not holding out a lot of hope for this stave but you never know.

Last picture is the handle but doesn’t show it very well. 
Wish I had taken some before pics of the s shape it had.
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Offline Mad Max

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Re: First time trying elm
« Reply #3 on: May 06, 2025, 06:06:53 pm »
What kind of Elm ?
« Last Edit: May 07, 2025, 05:03:24 pm by Mad Max »
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I would rather fail trying to do something above my means, Than to succeed at something beneath my means.

Offline Muskyman

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Re: First time trying elm
« Reply #4 on: May 06, 2025, 08:03:27 pm »
Not 100% sure to be honest. I think it’s what we call slippery elm around here. It was growing along the edge of my yard right where my woods start.
I got some reflex heated into the limb and I think I might have to get a little twist out of it before moving on. Might have a bit more heat corrections to make but we’ll see
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Offline Pat B

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Re: First time trying elm
« Reply #5 on: May 07, 2025, 05:48:03 pm »
Elm is an excellent bow wood. I've only made a few elm bows but have been impressed with it so far. My first elm bow was a 60" recurve. It took heat bending and corrections well. All of it was done with dry heat. I just got another elm stave at the Tenn Classic and plan to make another recurve. This one I will probably use steam for the recurves. I also plan to sinew back this one although none of my other elm bows were sinew backed.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Muskyman

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Re: First time trying elm
« Reply #6 on: May 07, 2025, 08:01:01 pm »
Can’t wait to see it Pat. I’ve got a bunch of sinew I bought a while back. Maybe since I’ve been on a first time thing I’ll try some sinew on my next bow.
I took a little twist out of the one limb today and am going to do a little more straightening yet. Then probably have to decide what I want to do with the handle area. 
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Offline Pat B

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Re: First time trying elm
« Reply #7 on: Today at 01:53:08 pm »
The handle area is non-bending so make it to your advantage, see if you can shape it to take advantage of it's irregularities for your benefit.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC
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