Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: trail walker on February 13, 2018, 10:30:26 am

Title: water birch bark on?
Post by: trail walker on February 13, 2018, 10:30:26 am

Can you leave the bark on a water birch bow without any explosions? (--) I live in Utah and realized the canyon by my house is full of the stuff. And i happen to have a 57"in long 2" inch diameter sapling that been drying for a year ready to go.

Title: Re: water birch bark on?
Post by: Jim Davis on February 13, 2018, 11:05:09 am

57 is too short for a 28" draw, but you didn't say that was a goal...

Don't know about the bark.

Title: Re: water birch bark on?
Post by: PatM on February 13, 2018, 11:06:22 am

Birch inner bark is not of a suitable type to be left on.

Title: Re: water birch bark on?
Post by: Pat B on February 13, 2018, 12:04:37 pm

I think there are very few trees you want to leave the bark on while building a bow. There are tree barks that are appropriate for bow backing but they should be added later.

Title: Re: water birch bark on?
Post by: trail walker on February 13, 2018, 12:47:12 pm

OK, thanks guys i'll scrape it off. and Pat B i was feeling more like a 25 inch draw. I have been practicing with the plains style pinch grip   and a shorter draw.  It has taken a while but i think i have figured out how to do it, now i just need lots more practice.

Title: Re: water birch bark on?
Post by: Springbuck on February 13, 2018, 07:54:10 pm

  High, Trailwalker.  I live in Utah, too, Davis County.

The (red) water birch is one I made  bow from, kind of before I actually started making "real" bows.  It's probably usable for light weight bows, but it is not the greatest stuff.  Pretty soft, hard to see the grain, and kind of brittle.  I would definitely not leave the bark on.

 Contact me through PM if you need some wood. A lot of medium grade stuff sort of falls into my hands, stuff like elm and white mullberry.   I always have more than I can ruin!   :laugh: