Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Horn Bows => Topic started by: stuckinthemud on February 18, 2021, 10:54:39 am

Title: To cut or not to cut? Norway Maple
Post by: stuckinthemud on February 18, 2021, 10:54:39 am
There is a Norway Maple felled near me, snagged up off the ground that I have permission to cut..  The stem is about 8 inches diameter,  the distance between possible pin knots (blemishes on the bark surface) is about 60 cm/2 feet.  I'm fed up with filling my garage with poor quality timber but I have nothing I can use for core wood. Would you cut it?
Title: Re: To cut or not to cut? Norway Maple
Post by: bownarra on February 18, 2021, 02:41:40 pm
Yes as long as it looks straight grained and knotfree. Cut it as long as you can and cut the sections later once the bark is off and you can clearly see what you've got.
Send it to me if you don't want it!
Title: Re: To cut or not to cut? Norway Maple
Post by: stuckinthemud on February 18, 2021, 04:59:43 pm
Its a bit like skittles down there,  there's a half dozen trees sorta knocked each other down where a new spring has destabilised an embankment . One is a big black poplar, another is a common laurel but it has no straight sections, then a few Norway maples, pipe straight but young (4 to 6 inch diameter at chest height) and very knotty and one slightly more mature tree, not so straight but much less knotty. Should be able to cut some stuff for 5 section bows then.
Title: Re: To cut or not to cut? Norway Maple
Post by: Del the cat on February 19, 2021, 11:57:47 am
A lot of Norway Maple near me, it's good stuff.
Del
Title: Re: To cut or not to cut? Norway Maple
Post by: Yooper Bowyer on February 19, 2021, 12:51:27 pm
When I worked for a landscaper last spring I heard that there is only one way to prune a Norway Maple;  Do it once, 4" from the ground.
Title: Re: To cut or not to cut? Norway Maple
Post by: stuckinthemud on February 20, 2021, 03:51:40 pm
So, might be a good idea to cut the more knotty stuff for self bows?