Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: HickoryBill on February 01, 2011, 09:56:22 PM

Title: Sassafras??
Post by: HickoryBill on February 01, 2011, 09:56:22 PM

Anyone here ever make a usable bow from sassafras. If so what style worked the best? And what dimensions?

Title: Re: Sassafras??
Post by: jeffhalfrack on February 01, 2011, 10:03:30 PM

  My  Buddy's  been  making just  flat  bows  from it no  sap wood,  and  they  are  good  shooting  bows!!  nothing  at  all  like  I  read  and  he's  using  mostly  stone  tools   they  don't follow  the  string  and  are  faster  than  you  would  think   go  for  it  JEFFW

Title: Re: Sassafras??
Post by: HickoryBill on February 01, 2011, 10:06:19 PM

He doesn't use the sapwood? Does he chase a ring on the staves?

Title: Re: Sassafras??
Post by: Postman on February 02, 2011, 12:15:29 AM

I haven't , but there was a cool article recently in PA about a lightning-struck tree that gave up a sass stave.  He turned into a sweet bow. I can't find the mag, but i think it was a standard flatbow, around 68" or so long.

Title: Re: Sassafras??
Post by: Pat B on February 02, 2011, 12:58:43 AM

That article was just last year I think, Postman.   There was another article in an older PA titled "You can't build a bow with sassafras" or something like that. It turns out he could!

Title: Re: Sassafras??
Post by: Kegan on February 02, 2011, 10:47:18 AM

I made a couple ELB style sassafras bows backed with cloth. It's a great wood for long D bows because it's so light. I think so long as you do something to help the back hold together it should make a good bow.

Title: Re: Sassafras??
Post by: George Tsoukalas on February 02, 2011, 11:08:55 AM

Yes, I made a flatbow from it. I made it about 2.5 in wide. Jawge

Title: Re: Sassafras??
Post by: HickoryBill on February 02, 2011, 09:41:16 PM

Would cherry or birch back backing be a good choice for a sassafras bow?

Title: Re: Sassafras??
Post by: George Tsoukalas on February 02, 2011, 10:04:09 PM

This was awhile ago. I used silk. I backed it because there were ring violations form the bark removal. The rings were too thin to chase but I tried. Smelled like root beer. :) Jawge

Title: Re: Sassafras??
Post by: HickoryBill on February 02, 2011, 10:09:33 PM

Should it be split and sealed right away?

Title: Re: Sassafras??
Post by: Bevan R. on February 02, 2011, 10:40:40 PM

Made a couple of bows from a sassafras board. Backed one with hickiry and the other with purpleheart (for some unremembered reason). Both are wider and longer than a denser wood but shoot just fine and you will LOVE working the wood. Only sawdust I look forward to sniffing  :D