Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: wally on June 05, 2014, 01:06:40 pm
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I've got a nice bit of English yew with a thick layer of sap wood. So I can make a decent thickness bow with good heartwood I've had to remove a fair bit of sapwood. I now have the back of the bow cut, with many, many ring violations. Please don't tell me what I should've done :-[
I'm where I am now. How important is the one growth ring rule on yew? Is it now just a matter of patience and time to find one ring? Do you start from one end and chase? Any tips advice on how to do it would be great
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The way I chase yew after I have ground it down is to look for a high island. I gently use a rasp and a scraper to remove the island and continue from that point spreading out. If you feather out the violations on yew it has an excellent chance of staying together, I have done them both ways but prefer to chase a ring.
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What draw weight are you going for? Yew can handle some ring violation, but I wouldn't try it on a bow over 60#. Run a search on this topic, it's been covered many times
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You can either get 1 ring in the sapwood, or go for even thickness sapwood. You can't have both
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As Wizard said, it's all down to the draw weight you're after. If you want something lower than about 80# you're pretty much good to go. 60# for sure, but with good tillering and the violations feathered (i.e. not all in small areas) you could make 80# without having to chase a ring. A single ring just looks nicer ;)
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I've never chased a sapwood ring. Never will. No need.
Violated backs on yew can be made in any weight.
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Just make it smooth and crack on, poor choice of words but you get the idea.
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A couple of year ago at twin oaks I spliced some yew billets, one side had a nasty twist, i just ground it flat on the belt sander and he backed with raw hide, lasted him a couple of years.
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Thanks all. I'm only after about 50lb so I should be o/k, but I will try for one growth ring 'cos it looks better. I have sinew backed bows before but with the wet weather here it really needs protecting with polyurethane varnish which I don't like to put on my bows-just oil and wax-just my preference so I don't want to back this bow
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I'm in exactly the same boat. I got bored of trying to figure out what to do with the thick Sapwood on nice little yew stave and just hacked most of it off yesterday! :0 Keep us posted cos I'll be interested to hear how you get on. Cheers!
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I just read that we've broken one of the bowyers 10 commandments- it did feel like a bit of a sin cutting through that back! :0
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I've posted this umpteen times... chasing a ring on Yew is an aim, not a commandment. Sometimes you have to compromise.
I had a choice... no heartwood left on the belly or drop down 7 or 8 rings on the back.
This bow is over 40 years old and still shooting, but I'm a bit worried that I violated some rings ;)
Del
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Thanks Del,
I checked on previous posts but must've missed yours. I should've known the answer but your reassurance is great. A good bloke and good bowmaker is Del
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I've found the other recent thread where I expound my views at greater length.
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,46748.0.html (http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,46748.0.html)
Del
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Personally I'd chase a ring - why not if there are no 'problems' with the stave.
Unbroken fibers on the back are what we are after when making a bow. Think how gutted you'd be if it popped a splinter just when you got to full draw!
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Personally I'd chase a ring - why not if there are no 'problems'
He said 'English' yew mate lol.
If it's at all possible I will have a go at chasing a ring but 90% of the time the sapwood thickness is all over the shop with knots humps and bumps :(