Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Don Case on December 17, 2013, 09:37:12 pm

Title: Serviceberry
Post by: Don Case on December 17, 2013, 09:37:12 pm
Does serviceberry check badly? Do I need to take any more care than shellacking the back and ends? I have already taken the bark off.
Thanks
Don
Title: Re: Serviceberry
Post by: Zion on December 17, 2013, 09:53:50 pm
its always good to seal the ends, but the back shouldn't check. The only part that will check is the belly if it is roughed out and dried too quick, especially around the handle. It's one of the easiest woods to dry for me.
Title: Re: Serviceberry
Post by: loefflerchuck on December 17, 2013, 10:26:27 pm
If you rough out a green stave it will warp unless you tie it down
Title: Re: Serviceberry
Post by: Don Case on December 18, 2013, 01:21:11 am
It's tied down now!
Title: Re: Serviceberry
Post by: blackhawk on December 18, 2013, 07:36:46 am
I'd recommend removing the pith if ya havent....I've messed with downy serviceberry(which is different from yours tho) and it wanted to check along the pith
Title: Re: Serviceberry
Post by: Don Case on December 18, 2013, 02:01:25 pm
Mine doesn't have a pith. It has about 3/8" white center but it's regular wood, not like the pulp in Ocean Spray. Are we into a local name thing? We call this wood "Saskatoon". I googled Saskatoon and Wikipedia says it's the same as serviceberry.
Title: Re: Serviceberry
Post by: Bryce on December 18, 2013, 02:33:30 pm
They are the same Don. Yes it will check bad if not sealed properly.
Title: Re: Serviceberry
Post by: Don Case on December 18, 2013, 02:39:49 pm
Thanks, maybe I'll put a couple more coats of shellac on it.
Title: Re: Serviceberry
Post by: Bryce on December 18, 2013, 02:43:06 pm
Seal up the ends real good with some glue or something :)
Title: Re: Serviceberry
Post by: blackhawk on December 18, 2013, 05:48:29 pm
They are the same Don. Yes it will check bad if not sealed properly.

Yew smoking taxus needles again Bryce  :laugh:

There are 5 different species of serviceberry in north america...and Downy and Saskatoon are not the same technically 8) ...although I have a pretty good hunch most all are pretty similar property wise

The serviceberries here(also called June Berry,shadbush,downy) are the first to show blossoms in the spring and tell us spring is here and the rest of nature will soon be turning green....tasty berries too,but the animals get them faster than you can a lot of the times
Title: Re: Serviceberry
Post by: Bryce on December 18, 2013, 07:25:50 pm
lol no i wasnt saying that downy and Saskatoon are the same. im saying that service berry and Saskatoon are the same
referring to this question you dork!
Mine doesn't have a pith. It has about 3/8" white center but it's regular wood, not like the pulp in Ocean Spray. Are we into a local name thing? We call this wood "Saskatoon". I googled Saskatoon and Wikipedia says it's the same as serviceberry.

what do you think we're in africa or something!
Title: Re: Serviceberry
Post by: willie on December 18, 2013, 07:57:11 pm
i think there is a lot more to drying wood than just the initial precautions. wood can loose a lot of weight soon after cutting, but not so much later without checking. I have been experminting with plastic bags taped up over the ends for a ways. the bags can be vented more as the wood wants to loose less. Its a lot drier in the winter than summer here, so I find I must monitor drying and make adjustments as seasons change