Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Patches on April 01, 2013, 03:50:09 pm

Title: Do I need to seal the outside of hophornbeam staves?
Post by: Patches on April 01, 2013, 03:50:09 pm

I just got a stave of hophornbeam.  I took off the bark, split it and sealed the ends of the stave.  Do I need to seal the back of the stave or is sealing the ends enough?  I have not worked with hhb and I want to make sure I do not mess it up before I get to try to make a bow.

Title: Re: Do I need to seal the outside of hophornbeam staves?
Post by: MWirwicki on April 01, 2013, 04:04:48 pm

Yes.  Seal where you removed the bark.  If not, you will get longitudinal checks that can go deep.

Title: Re: Do I need to seal the outside of hophornbeam staves?
Post by: Pat B on April 01, 2013, 04:07:03 pm

Many whitewoods don't require the back to be sealed but I do just in case. It is easy enough to do. I keep Bullseye spray shellac on my workbench all the time and seal any back that has been recently uncovered. When you are ready to finish the bow you can put any finish over it. If you want to stain or dye the bow you will have to remove the shellac but that is easy with a light sanding or just wipe it off with alcohol on a rag.

Title: Re: Do I need to seal the outside of hophornbeam staves?
Post by: TacticalFate on April 01, 2013, 04:39:10 pm

Yes, seal it. Hophornbeam WILL check badly

Title: Re: Do I need to seal the outside of hophornbeam staves?
Post by: osage outlaw on April 01, 2013, 05:06:47 pm

I seal every piece of wood I take the bark off of, no matter what it is. 

Title: Re: Do I need to seal the outside of hophornbeam staves?
Post by: Marc St Louis on April 01, 2013, 05:56:52 pm

HHB can check badly when harvested at certain times of the year but at other times it will not check.

Title: Re: Do I need to seal the outside of hophornbeam staves?
Post by: soy on April 01, 2013, 08:38:28 pm

Yep seal them puppies up ;)

Title: Re: Do I need to seal the outside of hophornbeam staves?
Post by: Patches on April 02, 2013, 09:53:30 am

Thanks for the help!  I got them sealed up last night.