Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: RDSBandit on March 14, 2016, 07:14:56 pm
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So last weekend I chopped down a tree, not sure what it is. Elm, scrub oak maybe. I just don't know. Anyways, I chopped the tree down and cut it into one 6 foot log and one 5 foot log. I smeared Elmers glue on the ends. Well today I went out to my shop and saw there is mold growing on the ends of the logs! Is this a problem!? What should I do?!
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Is your shop dry?, heated?
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Dry yes. Heated no.
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I would wipe it off, wipe some bleach on it and when it's dry to the touch put some more Elmers on it. I'm suspecting that this time of year maybe the sap was running and the glue was kept too wet to set up. If you have the length you could cut an inch or so off the ends.
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Okay cool. Thank you. I will try that!
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If the bark is still on it will contribute to a mould loving environment. Split and rough into floor tillered staves. The good news is that this mould will likely only cause cosmetic bluestain not structural rot.
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Split the logs in half and seal the ends again. There is moisture in the log and by splitting them you give the moisture somewhere to escape.
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Mold is going to come from moisture being present, if you can maybe quarter or halve the log you will get below 35% mc a whole lot quicker. A fungal spray will cover you for a couple weeks and then I would only reapply if it was coming back. Hamish is right about the color stain; in my line of work the word stain is synonymous with mold
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I left all the bark still on. I have just held off splitting the logs because I was waiting to get a drawknife first. I can probably go ahead and spit them this morning.
But just to be clear, I split then or quarter them, then apply glue to only the ends? Not all the exposed wood, right?
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Yep that would be correct. :)
Pappy
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That exposed wood is where the moisture escapes from. It's the ends and back(after removing the bark)that you don't want checking.
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I went ahead and split the wood. I tried to quarter the bigger log but it started splitting way to narrow on one side so I stopped and just left it in 2 pieces.
The bark was peeling off easily so I took it all off. Now it is slick in the back where the bark was. Should I apply glue asap? And will that trap the moisture and I'll be in the same shape the ends are in? Or should I wait a day or two to let the backs dry out before I apply glue?
Also, maybe a stupid question, but, should I have them laying on their backs so the moisture will dry upwards towards the front of the wood? Or does it matter?
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Yes, seal the back, under where the bark was ASAP. It doesn't matter whether the log is on its back or not while drying.
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Okay. The backs are all glued now.
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Got a picture of the log? I am sure they'll be able to tell you what it is pretty quick, cross your fingers for elm over scrub oak
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I can get one. Do you need one with or without bark? Split side maybe?
Also.... how exactly do you post a pic? I tried before and it wouldn't let me, said it was to big.
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Split and rough into floor tillered staves.
When doing this, how close to finished size and shape do you go to? Do you leave 1/2 inch on every dimension? Or do you just take it down to size until it JUST starts to bend?
Also, I know I'm supposed to use the back (bark side) of the tree for the back of my bow, but is there ever a good reason to go in a ring or 2? Just curious.
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to post a pic you first gotta reduce it in size to something manageable.
There's lots of open access picture viewing softwares that can do this easily for you. Irfanview for example.
Or if you send it by e-mail from your phone, some email clients will ask you if you want to reduce the pic in size. Do so, and save it again on your phone to upload it on PA.
Joachim
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Bandit,
Set your camera or phone resolution to (640x480) then your pictures won't be to large...
Don