Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: freke on February 04, 2022, 11:52:12 am
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Hi,
I have got my hands over a stave of wild apple, it has dried for about two years and I think its soon time to start working but I have no experience with apple and what dimensions, length with etc so I hope someone can share some advice as I have find very little information, have seen few really stunning bows made and want to try it out.
It is nearly straight and a minor correction in handle section should be enough, and no twist or checks but the back has several small knots that I think should be fine if I can avoid damage em durring build.
The diameter is about 2 1/2", It has a deflexed center area and if I use the deepest point the stave would allow up to about 72" ntn although I prefer 68" or bellow.
My draw is length is 28" and would target 50-60# if material allow.
My thinking was to keep the natural deflex middy section and add long reflex tips so final result is slightly positive reflexed, what concerns me is that I not really know how wide I need to make the limbs and if the crown is an issue, please advice?
Thanks in advance,
Jonas
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I haven't used apple for a bow yet(I do have a bunch of crab apple billets seasoning).
Stemmler, a bowyer, author mentions it as a genuine bow wood. It will definitely make a flatbow, and I suspect it might make a good bow of English design(narrow and thick).
Reported to be very easy to bend corrections with heat.
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Wild apple wood will make a fine bow.
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It is a great bow wood, the crown is not an issue. It is very responsive to heat and you can straighten out rediculous amounts of bend. I would cleave that, see where you are and then make a decision. Apple with that many knots can be very tricky to cleave, so go carefully. Starting the split at the handle can be a good idea with wood like this. Obviously I can't say for sure but it looks to me like there's a fair amount of heli twist in there, be interesting to see how it comes out.
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It will be interesting how well it answer to heat as it need some TLC to get even shape.
Once I collected the stave and still fresh I removed about half way down to the pit on the back side. I choice the easy way removing the side with the big branches leaving the side with the small - done to prevent check and twist once drying. Added the a picture from the back side, may show better how the wood looks like, but I can't tell if it is twisted for sure but it looks promising.
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Looks really good, it should make a really nice bow
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I made this one https://www.diy.timetestedtools.net/crab-apple-flat-bow-im-knot-ready/
It's still shooting much to my pleasant surprise.
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I made this one https://www.diy.timetestedtools.net/crab-apple-flat-bow-im-knot-ready/
It's still shooting much to my pleasant surprise.
Nice bow bow and a really built description (have bookmarked it), looks to have been challenging with all knots what width of your bow?
Most says easy to form with heat, is it dry heat, or including steam?
( I usually use steam for bigger chunks and dry heat(or steam) thinner sections)
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That's a really wacky stave, I hope you have experience.
I also wonder how much seasoning the stave did with bark on, even over 2 years.
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That's a really wacky stave, I hope you have experience.
I also wonder how much seasoning the stave did with bark on, even over 2 years.
Well my experience with apple is zero, but from what I read do all fruit wood check and warp easy and must dry slow. Both ends and all branches has been well sealed with white glue, yesterday I cut off little at one end and check the moisture and it show nearly 10% so It is not dry and I re-sealed it.
Another year waiting or can apple be roughed out to speed up the drying process at some point, and if from what percentage is it safe to to start work?
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If you are at 10% now I'd say to reduce it to floor tiller stage, seal the back and ends again and start tillering slowly. 9% to 11% is about average M/C for a selfbow
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If you are at 10% now I'd say to reduce it to floor tiller stage, seal the back and ends again and start tillering slowly. 9% to 11% is about average M/C for a selfbow
Thanks, I will start working it slowly and see where it leads
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Well after last post, I start carefully to work but I realize as advised the stave was not fully dried so I left it for another year...
After some steaming, heat treating and a lot of sweat I finally get a bow out of it, still some fiddling with the handle and tuning.
It's the first and only apple bow I made and I am really like the wood it was indeed hard to work especially in the beginning, and a little more wonky than I am used to but it was really fun and I am happy so far.
I haven't measure the weight after last heat treat but suppose its about 45@at28" now.
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nice work congrats
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it looks good. A full draw picture would be great
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it looks good. A full draw picture would be great
A picture on the way to full draw, missing a inch or two , must admit I scratch my head should it looks like this:)
It its a mild reflex/deflexed and I find those difficult to tiller and in this case upper limb is more reflex and wonkier so I had a hard time on this one, and I would be surprised if its done:)
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I find it hard to see proper tiller with R/D style bows too.
The top limb looks like how most R/D bows look but I prefer the nice even bend of the bottom limb. Very nice apple wood bow anyway. :OK
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just try to keep taper even on top limb,,depending on how the bow is shooting,,,arrow flight,, the top limb might be a bit stiff,,,, just guessing cause the photo does not always give enough info to make that call,,but the way the bow shoots will
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just try to keep taper even on top limb,,depending on how the bow is shooting,,,arrow flight,, the top limb might be a bit stiff,,,, just guessing cause the photo does not always give enough info to make that call,,but the way the bow shoots will
upper limb has been the big challenge, it shoot pretty good and it actually bend more than it looks due to the reflex but the outer third have I had my doubts about, and the static area is slightly thick and can be lighten some - I will have a look at it in the weekend and recheck tiller.