Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: bushboy on February 19, 2014, 08:30:15 pm

Title: rosewood?
Post by: bushboy on February 19, 2014, 08:30:15 pm
I found a really piece of r/w at my favorite wood store!from the data base it looks really good!anyone have any experience with the stuff?I ask because it's really pricey and would a take on it before I take the plunge !thx's!
Title: Re: rosewood?
Post by: tattoo dave on February 19, 2014, 10:01:56 pm
Never messed with it. Let us know how it goes.

Tattoo Dave
Title: Re: rosewood?
Post by: Marc St Louis on February 19, 2014, 10:50:50 pm
Depends what kind of Rosewood.  If it's Brazilian then it makes excellent bows when backed with Bamboo
Title: Re: rosewood?
Post by: IdahoMatt on February 19, 2014, 10:59:33 pm
There was a ban on cutting true Brazilian rosewood back in the fifties or sixties.  It is very expensive.  My old boss at the guitar shop bought some documented pre ban stuff a few years back.  The boards were about 20" wide by 1 1/2" thick by 12' long he got three of them for about $7000, and he got one hell of a deal.  This was grade "A+++" wood but still very expensive none the less.  I would not make a bow out of it I would sell it and by a new bansaw :) and other goodies.
Title: Re: rosewood?
Post by: PatM on February 19, 2014, 11:26:55 pm
There are several other species of rosewood that are also used now that Brazilian rosewood is off limits.
 The actual family that the rosewoods belong to is very large and  contains many woods that are often used in the archery industry although mainly in a decorative way or as riser material.
 Check out the names on this list.
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalbergia
Title: Re: rosewood?
Post by: JW_Halverson on February 19, 2014, 11:30:12 pm
Seeing how it was often used in the necks of guitars and stuff, I would be afraid of it getting "frets".   ;D

At least you could tune the arrows to bow!

HA!  I slay myself!

But seriously, the color of rosewood and the luster you can get on a finish would make for a VERY beautiful bow.  I'd love to see one, if not shoot one. 
Title: Re: rosewood?
Post by: IdahoMatt on February 19, 2014, 11:47:47 pm
I truly love cheese.  Thank you JW
Title: Re: rosewood?
Post by: toomanyknots on February 20, 2014, 12:23:05 am
The boards were about 20" wide by 1 1/2" thick by 12' long he got three of them for about $7000, and he got one hell of a deal.

Heck yes he did. Probably got a lot of sides and backs out of that, dang.
Title: Re: rosewood?
Post by: toomanyknots on February 20, 2014, 12:25:03 am
The guy from the greenmanlongbows website has a couple rosewood bellied longbows in his gallery, you could try messaging him. They sure do look pretty.
Title: Re: rosewood?
Post by: Marc St Louis on February 20, 2014, 09:57:23 am
There's another species called Brazilian Ironwood, another name is Pau Ferro, that is being sold as Brazilian Rosewood.  Perhaps that is what they are actually selling.  I was fortunate enough to come  across a small supply of Rosewood many years ago and I bought a board 6" wide by 6' long of the stuff without too many bad run-offs.  I also have some Pau Ferro and it looks similar to the Rosewood but not quite the same, it also makes great backed bows.

This is a Bamboo backed Rosewood bow I made many years ago

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Rosewood%20Composite%20Bows/Bamboo%20backed%20Rosewood/FullDraw.jpg)

And this is another Bamboo backed Rosewood bow I made a few years ago

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Composite%20Bows/Joe%20York%20Bow/Handle.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Composite%20Bows/Joe%20York%20Bow/Braced.jpg)
Title: Re: rosewood?
Post by: IdahoMatt on February 20, 2014, 09:59:37 am
The boards were about 20" wide by 1 1/2" thick by 12' long he got three of them for about $7000, and he got one hell of a deal.

Heck yes he did. Probably got a lot of sides and backs out of that, dang.

Yes he did they were in an old barn in North Dakota for a long time.  He has made a couple of carved archtops that are breath taking.  I'll try and post a pic of one.
Title: Re: rosewood?
Post by: toomanyknots on February 20, 2014, 10:54:49 am
There's another species called Brazilian Ironwood, another name is Pau Ferro, that is being sold as Brazilian Rosewood.  Perhaps that is what they are actually selling.  I was fortunate enough to come  across a small supply of Rosewood many years ago and I bought a board 6" wide by 6' long of the stuff without too many bad run-offs.  I also have some Pau Ferro and it looks similar to the Rosewood but not quite the same, it also makes great backed bows.

This is a Bamboo backed Rosewood bow I made many years ago

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Rosewood%20Composite%20Bows/Bamboo%20backed%20Rosewood/FullDraw.jpg)

And this is another Bamboo backed Rosewood bow I made a few years ago

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Composite%20Bows/Joe%20York%20Bow/Handle.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Composite%20Bows/Joe%20York%20Bow/Braced.jpg)


Sweet!!!
Title: Re: rosewood?
Post by: bushboy on February 20, 2014, 07:13:11 pm
Thank's for the replies guys!marc,those are beautiful bows to say the least!they look quite narrow?is this correct?so I when back to the wood store and priced the panama rosewood.so I can get a 1_1/4"x7"x6' for bout 150$ ,think I'm gonna buy it tomorrow,perfect 1/4 sawn!hope it still there!
Title: Re: rosewood?
Post by: Marc St Louis on February 20, 2014, 07:55:28 pm
The limb width was around 1 1/4".  Both bows pulled about 55#.  The wood is not quite as strong as Ipe
Title: Re: rosewood?
Post by: bushboy on February 20, 2014, 10:13:06 pm
Thanks for the info!do you have a pic by chance of the jig that you use for your glueups?thank's!
Title: Re: rosewood?
Post by: mikekeswick on February 21, 2014, 04:20:18 am
If you aren't 100% certain of your glue-up methods go with some plentiful wood to get it dialled.
Title: Re: rosewood?
Post by: Marc St Louis on February 21, 2014, 09:24:18 am
The one thing about Rosewood and/or Pau Ferro is that it is a bit weak in tension so you have to be careful when adding reflex on glue-up, too much and she goes bang.

I do have a picture someplace but I'll have to look for it
Title: Re: rosewood?
Post by: bushboy on February 22, 2014, 09:50:12 am
Here's a look at panama rosewood that I got.
Title: Re: rosewood?
Post by: BrokenArrow on March 06, 2014, 08:58:18 pm
Not honduran or yucatan rosewood unless u can deal .with compression cracks:(
Title: Re: rosewood?
Post by: toomanyknots on March 06, 2014, 09:46:49 pm
Hey, anybody ever mess with chechen? My local woodcraft has a lot, and it seems to be a 1000 times cheaper than rosewood, with similar looks.
Title: Re: rosewood?
Post by: lostarrow on March 07, 2014, 12:43:32 am
Only in the veneer form for furniture and inlays , etc. Seemed very hard ,brittle  and split easily. Beautiful stuff  when finished up. I've only seen highly figured ,so I don't know if this would be indicative of the grain on most.