Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: 22arrows on March 03, 2009, 05:56:02 pm
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After my first bow breaking on me yesterday. I headed out this morning to get another board to work with to try and get a bow going. As I started roughing out the limb I ran into this area (pictured below). This spot I am concerned with is on the belly of the bow. If anyone has any insight I would appreciate it any suggestions.
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k282/dlbowers/Self-bows/Self-Bow-09_bow2004-1.jpg)
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If that is on the Belly....don't worry about it....But take a good look at the Back on the opposite side of that spot.....If you are going to get Boards for Bows....My Suggestion....and I am sure that others will chime in and say otherwise......My Suggestion is to look for a Board that is Biased Cut...or Quartersawn...with as little to no Runoff to speak of....I have never had a Quartersawn Board break on My with any style of Bow other than an ELB....but I believe that to have been My fault for pushing a piece of Red Oak to it's limits.....here is my favorite Picture of Grain Cuts....I have marked what I look for.....Good Luck....and Keep Scraping
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Thanks for the insight into wood grain. The back looks ok to me, but I a newbie at this stuff. Hopefully all will be good with this one?
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Good looking photo showing the grain for folks wanting to build board bows El Destructo...this question is often asked. That photo would be good maybe in the build-along section or somewhere a new person could be quickly directed to... :)
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As Destructo said those rings shouldn't be a problem at all. If that were a stave instead of a board there would be a hump or knot on the back side. Consequently, the limb might tend to be a little stiff at that point and carefully need scrapped. If the back side shows that several rings have been cut through there you will want to back it with some type of material. The way the rings lay in the middle of the limb suggest you have a pretty good cut of wood. Where will this knot lay in relationship to distance from the handle area or towards the tip?
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Why take a chance? Why not just glue a rawhide or some other backing on it?
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As Destructo said those rings shouldn't be a problem at all. If that were a stave instead of a board there would be a hump or knot on the back side. Consequently, the limb might tend to be a little stiff at that point and carefully need scrapped. If the back side shows that several rings have been cut through there you will want to back it with some type of material. The way the rings lay in the middle of the limb suggest you have a pretty good cut of wood. Where will this knot lay in relationship to distance from the handle area or towards the tip?
Hey thanks thats reassuring. That area is approximately on the last 1/3 of the limb; about 15 inches from the tip.
Thanks again, I'll keep everyone posted
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That looks like a high spot on the belly. That means the bow is probably a little stiff in that area.
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That looks like a high spot on the belly. That means the bow is probably a little stiff in that area.
Yup the limbs are still pretty thick right now. I have alot of thinning to do still
Ryano, I will be backing this one ;D
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doesn't really matter on the belly ;)
back is way more vulnerable to grain runoffs.
Nick