Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: nsherve on October 21, 2016, 06:18:42 pm

Title: cracks along the grain on the back
Post by: nsherve on October 21, 2016, 06:18:42 pm

I was getting started on some hophornbeam, and noticed some cracks along the length of the stave. Is it worth is to keep going? I've seen 4 or 5 of them. They aren't big or very long, but they are around knots and burls. There are a lot of them...other than that, the wood looks good. I cut the tree down last summer, and it's  been sitting up in my barn. I would send some picks of it, but I don't have a camera. Thanks.

Title: Re: cracks along the grain on the back
Post by: stuckinthemud on October 21, 2016, 06:34:55 pm

Not sure, but I think splits running along the grain are OK if you run some thin cyano into them - I had some in a yew bow and they were not a problem after gluing

Title: Re: cracks along the grain on the back
Post by: Pat B on October 21, 2016, 06:36:42 pm

If they run with the grain they probably not a problem. Post a pic so we can be sure.
 You can fill them with super glue. If they recently appeared I'd say to seal the back and give it more time to dry.

Title: Re: cracks along the grain on the back
Post by: nsherve on October 21, 2016, 06:44:14 pm

I don't think they came recently....I remember there being a good bit of them show up almost right away after splitting and debarking the logs. I may try the glue. Thanks...it seems I had read something about it in the past, but I couldn't find it.

Title: Re: cracks along the grain on the back
Post by: stuckinthemud on October 21, 2016, 07:11:37 pm

has the stave finished loosing weight?

Title: Re: cracks along the grain on the back
Post by: Marc St Louis on October 21, 2016, 08:30:39 pm

It's not a problem

Title: Re: cracks along the grain on the back
Post by: PatM on October 21, 2016, 11:48:40 pm

This is the main reason people recommend cutting HHB in the winter. It doesn't check if you cut and debark then..

Title: Re: cracks along the grain on the back
Post by: nsherve on October 22, 2016, 11:17:12 am

it's been sitting in a barn loft for a year, so i'm pretty sure it's dry.
i saw it was falling over when i was out bushhogging, that's why i cut it... also, i'ld never heard about cutting it in the winter for that. is it as difficult debarking when cutting it at that time as when doing that with hickory?

Title: Re: cracks along the grain on the back
Post by: PatM on October 22, 2016, 11:56:44 am

 It's much easier because it doesn't have that  fibrous inner bark like hickory.

Title: Re: cracks along the grain on the back
Post by: nsherve on October 22, 2016, 12:47:18 pm

thanks. i've seen a few of pretty good size. i may go cut one down before i go back to work. some of them are kinda twisted, but i could find a good one. i plan to cut a big mulberry tree down around the same area, anyway.

Title: Re: cracks along the grain on the back
Post by: half eye on October 22, 2016, 04:36:00 pm

Dont mean to take over your thread, but am posting pictures of a couple Ironwood (HHB) bows one recently posted. Both are made from dead standing Ironwood. one the wood was dead at least 4 years (maybe more) the other was dead sometime last year......anyway both are full of checks. I mean really checked a lot. Both bows are 50# @ 25" one is 47" long and the other is 50" long.....the longer bow is only an inch wide and the scalloped bow is 1-1/8" wide. Both shoot very well with no issues what so ever.

Here are the photos
rich

Title: Re: cracks along the grain on the back
Post by: half eye on October 22, 2016, 04:38:03 pm

the rest.....by the way I cut my green HHB just before and during "budding" with no checking issues at all.

Title: Re: cracks along the grain on the back
Post by: nsherve on October 24, 2016, 08:22:58 am

Yep, that's what the checks look like...