Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Cade on April 25, 2014, 12:31:57 am
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I'm new to bow making but hopefully will be making a few this summer. I will be cutting down a few hickory and osage trees at my granpa's farm. My question is can I saw them or do they have to be split? I am fine splitting them but my grandpa found what he calls an alaskan saw mill where it is basically a chainsaw rigged to a table to where you can handle whole logs. He used it to build his cabin in Alaska so he is itching to use it. Thank you for what ever advice you have.
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You can make bows with hickory lumber.
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Yes you can saw logs into staves. The kerf where the chainsaw goes thru the log will be wasted wood however. If the logs are big enough that won't be a big deal, but on smaller stuff it might be.
I prefer splitting myself. I think part of it depends on the type of bows you want to make. For just one piece bows I would split the logs. If your wanting to make some laminated bows then you should saw it.
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Since your new I'd do it the ole fashion way and split it..that way you know your staves will be following the grain perfectly ...and I like smaller hickory trees for bows,and i wouldn't cut a large one if I were you yet...learn how to read grain in a tree and pick a straight clean one for your firsts....the bark will indicate any twists,knots,cat faces,etc...the bark should run in a direction that goes straight up the trunk and doesn't twist like a candy cane....good luck
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Ditto what has been said above. Especially on osage, unless the logs are very large and straight it would be a challenge to cut up. Hickory not so much.
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Ok thank you. I think I'm wanting to make self bows so I think I will split it. Can't wait!
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If you pick out good straight grained trees they won't be to hard to split by hand. You will get a better understanding of the flow of the grain that way also.
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With selfbows you are better off splitting the log for your staves. Learn wood bow building from the beginning and that will help you understand the materials and the processes better as a new wood bow builder.
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My site may help. Jawge
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/index.html
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Is that your website George? If it is then I commend you on it. I have visited it before and it has been extremely useful. It mentioned moisture meters or weighing the stave to make sure it is dry. What would you recommend I use? Thanks for all the help.
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It is easier to split a log, but if I think a split is going to twist then I will rip the log with my bandsaw.