Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: JMcCauley on November 02, 2011, 08:47:12 pm
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I cut an elm sapling, or small tree (it's relatively large). It is mostly defect free except for a sort of hump on one side about 18 inches from the base, the other side will work though I think. So... This being my first attempt at something like this I need to know if I should season it at all, should I strip the bark? I don't know any of this yet, so please be specific with the advice. Thanks :).
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My first shooter was made from a sapling bow. Pick out the best side for the back. Mark 2 magic marker lines to delineate back from front. Remove the belly wood with a hatchet.Remove the bark and tiller the bow. See Bowmaking Directions on my site. Leave the stave a few inches longer than usual for you. You can get the limbs bending a few inches. It will dry faster. Jawge
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/
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If you are going to thin it to dry faster, make sure to tie it down to something to keep it straight. Elm has a very nasty habit of warping and twisting while drying. More so than any other wood i've used. Josh