Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Bryce on September 04, 2012, 10:28:18 pm

Title: White oak. Maybe some questions answered.
Post by: Bryce on September 04, 2012, 10:28:18 pm
Been seeing alot of "white oak questions" popping up well i didnt want to accIdently hijack someone's thread.
White oak is pretty indestructible. For example, here's a replica I made the other day took me all together 6 hrs to make. It's a replica bow from tbb 1 pg.178 (I think)
54.25" long, 2.5"@ midlimb introduced 2" of reflex took 1" of set. Which isnt bad at all for white oak. blah blah blah
Pulls 52#@28" Oregon white.


(http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh544/bryceott/3D239AF3-A108-4B3F-82A1-428124D08B7A-17484-00001301D25C40E1.jpg)

Heat tempered A LOT! Burned that sucker good. And the wood seemed to agree with the harsh behavior. Though the porous parts of the wood started to blacken and crack open. I did not care. And with good reason.

Right after tempering and reflexing(also with dry heat).
Gave it a quick sand so it would show up better on the photo

(http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh544/bryceott/CE34AC7D-22DA-445A-B0A6-43CABA39F749-17484-000013021610743A.jpg)

Over night. Closed right up.

(http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh544/bryceott/AAD8B85D-8AEF-47BC-951F-0E3027E6C789-17484-0000130200693A77.jpg)

String grooves(working recurves)
(http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh544/bryceott/67528E86-2B95-44C7-82DC-9B5E44A101BE-17484-0000130694DA5E48.jpg)

This bow has not gotten its cherry bark grip or a final finish.
It has in fact passed about 100 arras and is still shooting great.
This bow was more of an experiment than anything.

-Bryce
Title: Re: White oak. Maybe some questions answered.
Post by: Carson (CMB) on September 04, 2012, 10:41:08 pm
Sweet.  thanks for posting pinecone.  That is some motivation for digging into those pieces of white oak sitting in line. 

Do you have an unbraced side profile pic? 
Title: Re: White oak. Maybe some questions answered.
Post by: Bryce on September 04, 2012, 10:58:05 pm
Bad picture but oh well
Here yah go!

(http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh544/bryceott/3DFEE968-6648-4F3B-9013-A18273B4F9A6-17574-000013165DBAD8FF.jpg)
Title: Re: White oak. Maybe some questions answered.
Post by: Carson (CMB) on September 04, 2012, 11:02:55 pm
That looks nice. I would have expected more set from that design and from what I had heard about white oak.  I wonder if it was your heat-treating that made the difference. Nice on yah for taking on that replica!
Title: Re: White oak. Maybe some questions answered.
Post by: Bryce on September 05, 2012, 12:14:54 am
I'm glad you like it! white oak is easy to tiller. That's why I have so much in my stash :P

-B
Title: Re: White oak. Maybe some questions answered.
Post by: sharpend60 on September 05, 2012, 01:03:55 am
I just started a a white oak stave.

It actually gambel oak aka scrub oak but wiki said it was white oak so I'm sticking with that.
It has a pretty gnarly back and has some holes in the rings but i'm gonna tiller it anyhow.
I soaked em with super glue. If I get it finished I'll  defiantly post pics.

Thanks for the heat treat info.
Title: Re: White oak. Maybe some questions answered.
Post by: lesken2011 on September 05, 2012, 09:34:11 am
You got a lot out of that piece of wood, for sure. Nice job and sweet bend.
Title: Re: White oak. Maybe some questions answered.
Post by: H Rhodes on September 05, 2012, 09:56:04 am
I have been working a lot of white oak lately and the stuff we have from the other side of the country reacts the same way to a good heat treating.  Mine cracks like that too and then reseals itself after re-hydrating.  That is a fine looking bow.  It is pretty near unbreakable from what I have found.  You tillered that one perfectly.  I usually end up with a little more set than that.  Great work.
Title: Re: White oak. Maybe some questions answered.
Post by: Bryce on September 05, 2012, 01:25:37 pm
Sharp- jump on that stave! Im sure it not to dry down there for oak :P

Rhodes- that you for the compliment. I was noticing that no matter how wide or how narrow I made the white oak I always got 2-3" of set. So this time I went with a paddle bow design and the burned this nearly into flames. Iam very please with only 1" set. But am still determined to get 0.
Title: Re: White oak. Maybe some questions answered.
Post by: Sidewinder on September 05, 2012, 03:14:10 pm
Well I am very impressed. A little shorty like that and white oak too...might have to give it another thought. well done.    Danny
Title: Re: White oak. Maybe some questions answered.
Post by: Bryce on September 06, 2012, 04:48:22 am
I forgot to mention that the wide limbs make this bow shoot an arrow about as fast a snail. But she stick Packs a punch:)

Another one I have has 1 1/2" wide limbs and shoot WAAAY faster but that's simple physics we all can agree on :)
Title: Re: White oak. Maybe some questions answered.
Post by: H Rhodes on September 06, 2012, 10:05:55 am
I have messed around with white oak designs a little bit too,  and have found it to be a bit of a puzzle how to get the best performance out of it.  I am working on a couple right now and have learned that they will take a lot of heat and that it really helps the performance.  I have overbuilt one and ended up with little set,  but sort of below average arrow speed.  The speediest arrows I have come up with per pound have come from a 58" recurve, bending slightly in the handle and limbs about 1 3/8" right out of the fades, and about 2" of set.  I am still on a quest for zero set and that ultimate design for this species.   I have one on the way now that is a simple D bow, 62" ntn, and absurdly thin tips - burnt toast heated - we'll see how that one does....  It is wonderful bow wood, huh?  White oak is quite unique.
Title: Re: White oak. Maybe some questions answered.
Post by: beetlebailey1977 on September 06, 2012, 02:08:01 pm
Very interesting thread.......have a white oak stave that I am looking forward to stating.
Title: Re: White oak. Maybe some questions answered.
Post by: Bryce on September 06, 2012, 02:52:53 pm
I have messed around with white oak designs a little bit too,  and have found it to be a bit of a puzzle how to get the best performance out of it.  I am working on a couple right now and have learned that they will take a lot of heat and that it really helps the performance.  I have overbuilt one and ended up with little set,  but sort of below average arrow speed.  The speediest arrows I have come up with per pound have come from a 58" recurve, bending slightly in the handle and limbs about 1 3/8" right out of the fades, and about 2" of set.  I am still on a quest for zero set and that ultimate design for this species.   I have one on the way now that is a simple D bow, 62" ntn, and absurdly thin tips - burnt toast heated - we'll see how that one does....  It is wonderful bow wood, huh?  White oak is quite unique.

 I have one In the work with a particularly strange desIgn for this wood but it's showing remarkable results, but I'm keeping it hush hush for now just in case it fails :)
Title: Re: White oak. Maybe some questions answered.
Post by: bubby on September 06, 2012, 07:02:35 pm
here's my favorite white oak, not heat treated 'cept for the tip's, with minimal set, less than 1/2", from a board, i've had great success whith this wood, BubIMG]http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt320/bubncheryl/Picture002-30.jpg[/IMG]
(http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt320/bubncheryl/Picture006-10.jpg)
Title: Re: White oak. Maybe some questions answered.
Post by: sharpend60 on September 06, 2012, 11:02:35 pm
Bubby, that bow looks sweet.

Lets hear some specs.
Title: Re: White oak. Maybe some questions answered.
Post by: Bryce on September 07, 2012, 04:11:30 am
Very nice bun, but then your bows always are!

-Pinecone
Title: Re: White oak. Maybe some questions answered.
Post by: bubby on September 07, 2012, 06:08:30 pm
here's a link to it sharpendhttp://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,32928.0.html

thank's bryce, i'm a fan of your bows, Bub
Title: Re: White oak. Maybe some questions answered.
Post by: Bryce on September 07, 2012, 07:34:05 pm
what kind of white oak you using? live?

-Pinecone
Title: Re: White oak. Maybe some questions answered.
Post by: bubby on September 07, 2012, 07:42:13 pm
full quartersawn board stock pinecone, Bub