Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: redboard on April 10, 2014, 06:08:31 pm

Title: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
Post by: redboard on April 10, 2014, 06:08:31 pm
About 3 months ago, whilst upset with my lovely wife, I meandered out of doors, happened across a sharp axe, and used it on one of probably 40 Japanese ligustrum trees in my back yard. I didn't mean to chop it down, but the bite of the axe-head into green shrubbery just felt right.

It musta been providence, cause now I've been infected with some sort of bow-building virus/bug (no known cure) and I have a ruddy big log that I'm gonna split into staves. The main trunk is a good 7 feet long, 8-9" diameter and straight at a stove-pipe.

What's the worst that could happen?
Title: Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
Post by: DarkSoul on April 10, 2014, 06:11:07 pm
It could fall onto your head and kill you.
Title: Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
Post by: redboard on April 10, 2014, 06:20:28 pm
I'll try to keep that in mind next time I play with axes  ;D
Title: Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
Post by: smoke on April 10, 2014, 06:20:53 pm
Sounds like a karma thing . . . I say go for it!
Title: Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
Post by: bubby on April 10, 2014, 06:22:14 pm
I know privet makes a good bow, have fun, but your wife may want to hide the axe and save her yard :laugh:
Title: Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
Post by: DarkSoul on April 10, 2014, 07:21:28 pm
All jokes aside...privet is reported to be good bow wood. I don't recall ever seeing a Japanese privet bow, but it's worth a shot. Fell the tree carefully (lol), split the log and seal the ends. I think I'd leave the bark on while drying. Measure the specific gravity and design a bow accordingly.
Title: Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
Post by: Wiley on April 10, 2014, 08:30:20 pm
Did you seal the ends of the log and get it out of the elements?
Title: Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
Post by: criveraville on April 10, 2014, 09:13:49 pm
Welcome. May I recommend anger management or meditations?  :laugh:

Cipriano
Title: Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
Post by: Pat B on April 10, 2014, 09:48:51 pm
Privet checks easily so seal it well and soon. It is very hard wood and makes good arrows so it should make a good bow too.
Title: Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
Post by: redboard on April 11, 2014, 10:54:46 am
The tree is already down, but off the ground. I need to cut out the usable main trunk as its still just a whole tree...
And those things are like weeds here in Texas.

Title: Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
Post by: Pat B on April 11, 2014, 11:24:02 am
How long have they been down? Privet decays really fast once cut if not handled properly.
Title: Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
Post by: redboard on April 11, 2014, 11:33:22 am
I think its been down a couple of months. If its decaying when I cut out the trunk, I won't bother, but I've cut tons of this stuff down and haven't found it to degrade almost at all over time.
Title: Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
Post by: criveraville on April 11, 2014, 01:21:17 pm
Where in Texas are you located redboard?

Cipriano
Title: Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
Post by: redboard on April 13, 2014, 02:42:57 pm
Waco
Title: Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
Post by: criveraville on April 13, 2014, 03:30:54 pm
I'm not too far from Waco. Let's see a pic of that trunk.
Title: Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
Post by: redboard on April 14, 2014, 03:55:47 pm
I'll get a pic tonight...it'll still be just a tree though. I had a 104 degree fever most of the weekend.
Title: Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
Post by: redboard on April 16, 2014, 01:26:14 pm
Here are the two best chunks of ligustrum off of my axe-therapy session
Title: Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
Post by: redboard on April 24, 2014, 01:03:20 pm
So, I've roughed out the smaller one. It has kind of a natural reflex that I'll use for the back.
I may have made a mistake in debarking it, but I've got plenty more if it checks too badly. Its measuring about 75" and will  certainly be a "character" bow. I'll leave the limbs as wide as I can and focus on tillering the belly.
This stuff is super springy and tough to break when its semi-dry. I'm hoping it'll be just as tough when it's all the way dry!
Title: Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
Post by: dragonman on April 24, 2014, 04:43:17 pm
I got a privite stave i cut 6 months ago so i'll wait and see how yours goes before i try...,they make fighting staffs and spears out of it in china because it is supposed to be very tough flexible and whippy , so should make a good bow
Title: Re: Japanese ligustrum...or Japanese Privet
Post by: bubby on April 24, 2014, 05:24:08 pm
privet does make a good bow and dries pretty fast so watch for checks