Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: IdahoMatt on September 08, 2014, 12:45:35 am

Title: Good ol' manual labor.
Post by: IdahoMatt on September 08, 2014, 12:45:35 am
Got some wood today.  Is was some hard work with a hand saw till I got back to the shop, where the band saw is.  Total of 24 staves.  1 piss elm (Dutch) I believe and 23 mountain maple 6 of witch is the compression side for expierimenting.  All of the others are tension side staves sawn in half.  Hope to make some good stuff here.  Thanks for lookin. 

(http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y539/IdahoMatt1/imagejpg1_zps0debb32e.jpg) (http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/IdahoMatt1/media/imagejpg1_zps0debb32e.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Good ol' manual labor.
Post by: bubbles on September 08, 2014, 12:56:11 am
Wow.  Some of those look like quite the challenge.  :)
Title: Re: Good ol' manual labor.
Post by: wizardgoat on September 08, 2014, 01:08:37 am
Is mountain maple Douglas maple? I have some and it looks very similar.
Some cool snaky ones in there!
Title: Re: Good ol' manual labor.
Post by: IdahoMatt on September 08, 2014, 01:10:43 am
I believe it is Douglas maple.
Title: Re: Good ol' manual labor.
Post by: blackhawk on September 08, 2014, 08:54:55 am
Looks like maple madness there matt  ;D ...next time drive a lil further north for some of that yew ;)
Title: Re: Good ol' manual labor.
Post by: IdahoMatt on September 08, 2014, 09:28:11 am
The nape is in my back yard and I'm way down south.  I would have to drive about nine hours to get some yew. 
Title: Re: Good ol' manual labor.
Post by: IdahoMatt on September 08, 2014, 09:50:30 am
Would any of you vine maple guys keep the compression side of the stave.  Or should I cut for fire wood.  I know it doesn't make a fantastic bow but would it make a decent bow?  I know this isn't vine maple but I have heard its close.  Thanks
Title: Re: Good ol' manual labor.
Post by: blackhawk on September 08, 2014, 10:10:38 am
I'd drive nine hours for yew matt ..road trip and camping/hiking etc time..sounds fun to me...can't go wrong any which way regardless in northern idaho ;) I bet your closer than 9 hours as well...I say 7,and that's 23 hours closer than I am...lol  :laugh: ...but maybe your not as adventurous as me  ;D
Title: Re: Good ol' manual labor.
Post by: IdahoMatt on September 08, 2014, 10:13:25 am
True Chris.  Mabe after hunting season I née to take a trip.  Excuses are just so easy.  My wife and I are tearing down a couple of houses right now I our spare time.  So spare spare time is a hard thing to find :).  There I go again with excuses.
Title: Re: Good ol' manual labor.
Post by: wizardgoat on September 08, 2014, 12:03:38 pm
I live in yew country and still drive 5-6 hours to the good spots.
Ive saved a few compression staves, but haven't used them yet .
kurt from brisky bows told me he has, but 40# or less.
Does Douglas wander as bad as vine when split green?
Title: Re: Good ol' manual labor.
Post by: jeffp51 on September 08, 2014, 12:57:33 pm
Mine did.  Thought I had a straight log, but when I quartered it, they were all over the place.  Pretty wood, though.  Matt, It would be interesting and maybe helpful to compare notes.  I am new and still working on my first maple staves (in Utah).  I am curious to see if I can make a bow at all out of the stuff.  I will look forward to seeing how yours turn out.  Keep us posted
Title: Re: Good ol' manual labor.
Post by: John D on September 08, 2014, 01:17:09 pm
That'll keep you out of trouble for a bit.  Sounds like you earned it!
Title: Re: Good ol' manual labor.
Post by: IdahoMatt on September 08, 2014, 03:19:45 pm
It moves quite a bit while drying but nothing too bad yet.  Some of these look like they might go pretty far.  But I am still experimenting with this wood.  I posted a while back on another haul that I didn't seal the ends or the backs.  In hind sight I should have listened to my pears and now I will they didn't check too bad and some didn't at all.  But some did and I don't want to lose any to laziness or stubbornness. 

Jeff mt. Maple dose make a good bow here is one that I made that won BOM.  It still shoots great and the early tension is great.  Feal free to PM me any time 
Title: Re: Good ol' manual labor.
Post by: IdahoMatt on September 08, 2014, 04:32:26 pm
Oops here is the link.  Sorry

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,43593.msg586087.html#msg586087
Title: Re: Good ol' manual labor.
Post by: PatM on September 08, 2014, 04:51:56 pm
I'm always amazed that you guys will go into the woods and apparently cut the first 15 trees you see. I guess if that's your thing.
Title: Re: Good ol' manual labor.
Post by: IdahoMatt on September 08, 2014, 05:11:41 pm
What on earth do mean by that Pat
Title: Re: Good ol' manual labor.
Post by: PatM on September 08, 2014, 06:30:34 pm
I'm not sure how I can be more clear. Is there actually knottier and more crooked wood in your woods?
Title: Re: Good ol' manual labor.
Post by: Swampman on September 08, 2014, 07:05:33 pm
That looks like a good days work. Especially with a handsaw.
Title: Re: Good ol' manual labor.
Post by: IdahoMatt on September 08, 2014, 08:09:00 pm
It was a good two hours swamp thing.  It was pretty steep country and rocky. Lots of dodgy foot holds.  Glad I had a hand saw. 
Title: Re: Good ol' manual labor.
Post by: Zion on September 08, 2014, 08:23:10 pm
yeah it ain't always easy to find good wood. Specially in the dryer areas, trees don't wanna grow so straight. That looks like some nice maple. Have you ever had compression problems with mountain maple?