Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Scallorn on May 20, 2017, 10:27:15 pm
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I have an ERC stave about 76 inches long by about 1 and 1/2 inches wide with a 50/50 heart/sap ratio. Will this make an English longbow? It's almost flawless
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I imagine it should if you keep it long
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Id suggest rawhide backing.
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I've been told that you have to tiller erc slower otherwise it can explode. Is a rawhide back completely necessary? I was hoping to go for a low stress cross section and not have to back it
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Keep as much sapwood on the back and be very careful around any knots or pins. Although rawhide backing isn't necessary it is very good insurance. ;)
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Keep as much sapwood on the back and be very careful around any knots or pins. Although rawhide backing isn't necessary it is very good insurance. ;)
+1 and I'll add that if it were me, I'd start wide, like 2" wide and thick. I'm finishing up an ERC ALB that pulls 50# right now. It's backed with goat rawhide (dries clear), is 2" wide out of the fades to mid limb and it's around 3/4" thick out of the fades tapering from there. With ERC it seems to take a lot more wood than with a high density wood to do the job. But that's okay cause it's light as a feather!
Good luck!
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And a coat of sinew REALLY seems to stiffen up ERC if you end up coming out a bit under weight. I've gt a ELB roughed out of ERC for about a year now that I've gotta finish shaping and start bending. My plan was to leav it with a sapwood back, leaving it flat and heavily rounding the belly to take some strain off he back. Sknce t seems so weak in tension compared to compression. My stave is similar dimensuons. I might make it one of my next bows I work on to see for myself how well it works unbacked.
Kyle
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If you follow this series, Dave Mead shows how to make a pretty narrow longbow out of ERC.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONesRn82OYE
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personally I would back it.. especially if you are wanting over 50 lbs draw weight..gut
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Marc St Louis posted a heavy ERC warbow that was unbacked.
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Yeah but Marc can make a silk purse out of a sows ear ;D
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Yeah but Marc can make a silk purse out of a sows ear ;Dention.......haha
for the work that goes in one, not to mention how hard it is to find a clean stave, its not a bad idea to back ERC.. tiller has to be spot on perfect for a hunting weight bow unbacked... gut
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as for tillering slower.... I'd say no... cause ERC tills fast..wood is so soft, I tilled mine with sandpaper.. gut