Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: DanaM on January 02, 2009, 07:16:34 am
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I'm going to attempt a bow from Tag Alder(Alnus rugosa). Generally considered as completely useless.
I like to try different woods, I'm going to be really surprised if this one works out, the wood is really soft.
The stave is about 70" long and 1.5" wide and has a high crownand a few knot also. Not much width to work with but I'm going to
aim for 40#@ 26" and no longer than 68" NTN :) If it survives it will join my other garbage wood bow the sumac I built.
Here's a few pic to give you an idea of what I'm working with.
One question I have id with the high crown you guys think a flat belly is best? or maybe go for a rounded belly?
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Hi Dana
That's enough to make me want to try a piece of china berry.
Ron
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Dana, hey, I recognize that stick!! It's one that hit me in the face when I was surveying a line in Dickenson County!! Right?
Man, if Tag Alder works, you have bows for the multitudes in every creek bottom in the UP.
Good luck with it, we'll all be interested. Piper
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Dana
I've been meaning to try Tag Alder for several years. Last Fall while I was cutting some firewood I came across a really nice one. It was about 4" in diameter, no branches for 7' and pretty straight, those that are familiar with Tag Alder know that is big for one of them. It came back home with me and is drying in my wood shed.
Personally I think Tag Alder should make a decent bow, it is after all a member of the Birch family
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4" mark that is a honkin big one :o As for it making a bow we shall see eh. wish I had a more width to work with though.
Oh well if it even remotely works I will keep my eyes open for something bigger as piper said it literally grows everywhere around here :)
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Dana, If anyone is crazy it you, my friend! ;) This will be interesting. Tag Alder as quite common here as well. Can't wait to see how it turns out. I hope your safety equipment is up to date. ;) Pat
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You can do it man! Daaa-Nuh! Daa-Nuh! ;D
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You made a beauty out of that Sumac. This will be another challenge for ya. Good luck.
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Tag Alder...Hmmm...
Does that stuff Have kind of a glossy gray brown bark, leaves like a birch tree, and grow in swampy, low moist areas, usually only 2-3" in diameter?
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Tag Alder...Hmmm...
Does that stuff Have kind of a glossy gray brown bark, leaves like a birch tree, and grow in swampy, low moist areas, usually only 2-3" in diameter?
Yup dats da stuff :) Thanks for the vote of confidence guys, now the pressure is really on 8)
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After you make that one Dana I'll cut some black ash for ya. Cant wait to see if it holds up. Good luck.
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Hey Jesse I'll take ya up on the black ash, go ahead and cut me 3 or 4 decent pieces :)
If nothing else I can beat it apart for basket weaving eh ;D
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I was wondering what that stand of trees behind my house was. I thought it was some kind of river birch. I actually have a couple of staves of the stuff drying, was going to see what it amounted to.
Dale
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Dana, there is so much Alder around here, if ya do it I need the secret. :) whata i mean if, I know you will.PK
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Here is a link to one of the first bows I made and it is Alder, a year later and my boy is still shooting it :)
I loved working the wood it was like butter!
my Sitka Alder bow (http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/16305)
Sitka Alder (Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata)
This tree ranges from California to to Alaska
Plants Profile (http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ALVIS) A good description with pictures
Calflora (http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=254) information for California
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Nice little Bow there....I like gnarly woods!!
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Hey I hate to rain on your parade, but a cool dude up here in Alaska, one Martin Farris, has been shooting his alder bow at our 3d tourneys for a couple years now. The best part is the chant go go alder bow before each shot. Hope this provide inspiation, and if a cult following forms I am willing to ship genuine Alska alder by the plane load at a very reasonable price, it may make the sheep hunting a litytle less demandig.
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guess I shood uss speel chek aftur 5 rumncokes
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What kind of alder up there Granite? There is actually some pretty tough alder species.
Tag Alder isn't one of them but hey I will give it a try :)
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Some of my first bows I made years ago were from alder. The trees grow fairly straight and they turn color over time. Alder does make a bow,but, the wood could use backing of cloth or soemthing. Its very light in weight once it is dried. I think it would make an excellent center core because it can offer mass without the extra weight. . .
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granite mtn
ifn you want to send me a piece i would love to try it
pm me and lets talk ;D
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granite mtn
ifn you want to send me a piece i would love to try it
pm me and lets talk ;D
Hey now Tim no poaching on my thread eh ;) :D
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Here is a link to one of the first bows I made and it is Alder, a year later and my boy is still shooting it :)
I loved working the wood it was like butter!
my Sitka Alder bow (http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/16305)
Sitka Alder (Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata)
This tree ranges from California to to Alaska
Plants Profile (http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ALVIS) A good description with pictures
Calflora (http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=254) information for California
Yup Alaskan Alder makes a nice bow!
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Here is a link to one of the first bows I made and it is Alder, a year later and my boy is still shooting it :)
I loved working the wood it was like butter!
my Sitka Alder bow (http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/16305)
Sitka Alder (Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata)
This tree ranges from California to to Alaska
Plants Profile (http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ALVIS) A good description with pictures
Calflora (http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=254) information for California
Yup Alaskan Alder makes a nice bow!
Yea but what species???
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Alnus viridis
It grows all over the West coast :)
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ALVIS
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Haven't felt like messing with this one with it having been so dry but the humidity has been up for a few weeks
so I figured it was time to do a little work on it. Had to shorten it down to 61" as I found a cluster of little knots and
I felt they would cause the bow to break. So right now its floor tillered at 61" next I will cut some nocks in and
start tillering. Not sure if I'm going to get a shooter or not but if I do it will be light weight.
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this is an alder bow I made, it broke when I overdrew it, sadly.
http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/reply/200885#reply-200885
I really liked the bow, so I was kinda upset. make the limbs wide and flat, it feels a little weak in tension, so rounding the belly a bit won't be too bad.
68" ntn, narrow handle, will give drawweights up to 70# I think, but not much more.
Nick
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Nice bow nick, what kind of alder?
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thanks, it's common alder
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Was hoping to get the nocks cut and start tillering it yesterday but never quite got around to it :o
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Stone Carver
That is one fine bow. I've tried alder (A. sinuata) ...it is extremely common around here. Failed though but maybe I didn't let it cure enough.
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Put the tag alder stave on the form to remove some twist and added a few inches of reflex.
Doubt if it will hold any of it but who knows eh.
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Dana,
thats really starting to look like a bow,keep it coming cant wait for the finished product.
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Taken pics of wood bow gives one good reason to sweep the porch, not just because the Misses said too ?Eh Dana? :)
Curiously watching.
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I remember dat Porch....but whats dat white stuff....It werent there da last time I was......... ::)
If anyone can make a Bow from Tag Alder....it's a Yooper.....dats da State Shrub....... >:D
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Thanks guys, this tag alder seems pretty brittle.
Mike we had spring and summer 2 weeks ago its winter again :'(
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You did, It I believe it. :)
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You're getting there Dana, I finally brought my hemlock log home from camp and got it debarked, now I just need to split it and see what happens, you're post of the sumac bow and now this thread inspired me to try something that people say isn't good bow wood and see if it's true.
VB
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Good luck VB, if nothing else its a good way to pass time when the snow is Knee High on a giraffe ;)
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WOW, if this works, a new bow wood is coming along. We have tons of Alder here on the creeks - really tons...
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Bambule apparently some types of alder make decent bows but tag alder may not be one of them ;)
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hey dana,do you think sinew backing would help any...i dont think i have ever seen one sinew backed..john
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I would say that a Sinew Backing would severely overpower the Wood....and cause fatal problems with Belly Wood Chrysals.... JMO
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oh really....i thought that might help a little....glad to know that....see what i know ???...thanks john
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I think mike is right on tag alder don't know about your western alder, send me a stave and I'll try it :)
I really should back this one with silk as I believe its weak in tension, but that would take all da fun out of it ;)
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Dana, you know what they say about hitting your head with a hammer - it feels so good when you stop. :)
Best of luck with this bow. It looks great so far.
Dane
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good luck with it , I really hope it holds , up
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Well its over snapped her last night :'(
Will see about getting a few pics up later today
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Bummer,I used to hate breaking bows,don't bother me much anymore,I need kindling for the stove.:)
Trying new woods and pushing the envelope causes the bowyer to have troubles at times,but staying stale in the craft is much worse I think.I applaud your efforts.