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First time making a Bow: Vine Maple

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TheDeerHunter:
Hey guys,

This is my first post, just joined yesterday glad I found this place!

I'm all set to make my first bow, picking up some tools today and have some coming in the mail. I've watched lots of videos on making selfbows, and I am reading a book right now. I haven't found much info on seasoning Vine Maple. This is what I have chosen because I have access to a lot of it, I hear it is a good bow wood, but challenging for a beginner. I can't get a lot so I can afford to make some mistakes and am up for a challenge. I may also be able to get my hands on some Pacific Yew as well. I am on the southern coast of British Columbia.

I haven't been able to find much of any information on the best way to season Vine Maple. Actually the book I am reading I am not sure there is any information on seasoning any wood at all, that being said I just started it but skimmed through the whole thing and didn't see anything and there are no chapters on it.

If anyone has worked with Vine Maple and can let me know your steps to the best seasoning you have had I would appreciate it. Also any general information and tips are very much welcomed, especially pertaining to Vine Maple or Pacific Yew.

Cheers,

Dillon

sleek:
Welcome aboard and we are glad you found this place too! Ive seen bows made of vine maple, but never tried it myself.  I remember they need to be wide and long. Seasoning is likely the same as any other wood, paint the ends to stop them from cracking, and wait a year or two. I think if you split it to dry faster it may warp but thats a faint memory, not certain,  so if you try that anchor it down to a post to stop it from warping.

Burnsie:
Here's a recent post where they used sugar maple.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,73435.0.html

TheDeerHunter:
There is a very short part in the book I am reading in the first few chapters on them and mentioned they like to be wide.

From the information i've gathered, which is very little still, it recommends when you cut the tree down to take it back to the house and get the bark off and shape it down to roughly the size of the bow, then let dry/season. Is it better to leave the bark on and log whole to dry with the ends painted?

CCopland:
Hi Dillon;
I live in south west British Columbia as well; actually in Abbotsford. I have made five vine maple bows and found it to be a very good bow wood.

I wait until May or June to cut the tree. The bark then slips right off very easily and will give you a nice clean back. I then chop it out to rough bow dimensions and immediately seal the back and the ends. I have used glue (Titebond III) to do this. Then I will strap it to a 2X4  or caul to let it dry. If you do not strap it down the stave will curl badly into an ark as it dries. I found that the staves are resistant to cracking or splitting.

I have also found that the wood loses moisture quite quickly and maybe be ready to work in a couple of months. I heat treat the bow to straighten, bend and add reflex.

I have my eye on two trees on my place that look like they may make a bow. I will cut them in late spring. Send my a private message (see My Messages above) and we can talk on the phone if you wish. Best of luck.

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