Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Tortoise on May 23, 2012, 08:21:18 pm

Title: Bow bent itself...?
Post by: Tortoise on May 23, 2012, 08:21:18 pm

Hi all  :)

Now that school just ended for me today I immediately went to work on my bow (osage/hickory 72"). It has been resting on a counter top for a little over a month with no work, and it developed a noticeable bend toward the back.

(http://i.imgur.com/ZrX9S.png)

The center is a little over 1/2" high off the surface. I was looking for this bow to be #55-60, this bend looks like it adds weight. I have no idea what caused this or if it is bad or not, what do I do?

Thanks   :)

Title: Re: Bow bent itself...?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on May 23, 2012, 08:24:10 pm

It dried out perhaps. Couldnt ask for a better bend than reflex.

Title: Re: Bow bent itself...?
Post by: Tortoise on May 23, 2012, 08:28:55 pm

Quote from: PEARL DRUMS on May 23, 2012, 08:24:10 pm

It dried out perhaps. Couldnt ask for a better bend than reflex.

So this is a good thing?

Title: Re: Bow bent itself...?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on May 23, 2012, 08:30:51 pm

Reflex is a good thing, overly dry wood isnt. What is the humidity % down there right now?

Title: Re: Bow bent itself...?
Post by: Tortoise on May 23, 2012, 08:33:39 pm

The humidity is 9% (I'm in AZ so it's always dry like this)

Title: Re: Bow bent itself...?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on May 23, 2012, 08:46:35 pm

Thats super low. We stick around 50-80 up here in MI.

Title: Re: Bow bent itself...?
Post by: Tortoise on May 23, 2012, 08:51:37 pm

So I guess this isnt a good bow climate  >:( any way to re-hydrate it?

Title: Re: Bow bent itself...?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on May 23, 2012, 09:14:55 pm

Is it a bow yet? Or still a project?

Title: Re: Bow bent itself...?
Post by: Arrowind on May 23, 2012, 09:54:46 pm

The wood probably dried out a bit with the weather warming up here.  I live in AZ also.

I say just make a bow and see how it goes.    Every area has it's pros and cons.  You can make bows in Arizona just fine.  Go for it!

Title: Re: Bow bent itself...?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on May 23, 2012, 09:59:56 pm

Yup. Even sealed it will go up and down with the weather. Its living in AZ now and you dont have a choice if you want a bow. Hickory loves dry climates. It will perform great.

Title: Re: Bow bent itself...?
Post by: osage outlaw on May 23, 2012, 11:09:38 pm

Like Pearly said.  Get some hickory and make some selfbows. 

Title: Re: Bow bent itself...?
Post by: JW_Halverson on May 23, 2012, 11:29:37 pm

I seriously doubt hickory can get too dry!

Hickory grows all over the country, but especially in places that have pretty good humidity...so many hickory trees are spared by voracious bowyers.  But here in western South Dakota, I doubt there is a better bow wood!  Pity it just don't grow here!

Good Luck!

Title: Re: Bow bent itself...?
Post by: Tortoise on May 24, 2012, 12:20:12 am

Awesome thanks for the help guys  :)

Title: Re: Bow bent itself...?
Post by: Prarie Bowyer on May 24, 2012, 09:50:44 am

It's not a problem.  Take it slow and finish it out.  I like to oil my woods with Danish oil.  You can rehydrate the wood if you think it needs it. I've had big signs blanks in hard woods warp as they dried after cutting the wood down for joining.  We sprayed it with a watter bottle and clamped it flat.  Took care of the problem. 

There is no need to fix that bend.  I try to glue bend like that into my blanks.