Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Nasr on August 20, 2019, 04:45:01 pm

Title: Am I wasting my time
Post by: Nasr on August 20, 2019, 04:45:01 pm
 Just stopped by my local lumber yard and found some purple heart it just stopped me dead in my tracks so beautiful. I thought about making a white oak backed purple heart but i am reading that it frets a lot. Am i wasting my time making a bow or should i use it as handles.
Title: Re: Am I wasting my time
Post by: Deerhunter21 on August 20, 2019, 05:17:13 pm
that depends. the grain needs to be basically perfect. mabey two runn offs and two run ins. the sides need to be the same.
Title: Re: Am I wasting my time
Post by: airkah on August 20, 2019, 06:26:38 pm
I can't speak to how it would work in compression, but I wouldn't want to make a bow out of it just because of how hard it is to work with. I use it for a lot of tip overlays, and hate every minute of making them, but I do it because the wood is so beautiful when its fresh. I think tillering be a slow, difficult process scrapping the belly, but if it all holds together the bow would be stunning. And if it blows up, you would sure have a lot of overlays for the future.
Title: Re: Am I wasting my time
Post by: bjrogg on August 20, 2019, 06:43:48 pm
I can't speak to how it would work in compression, but I wouldn't want to make a bow out of it just because of how hard it is to work with. I use it for a lot of tip overlays, and hate every minute of making them, but I do it because the wood is so beautiful when its fresh. I think tillering be a slow, difficult process scrapping the belly, but if it all holds together the bow would be stunning. And if it blows up, you would sure have a lot of overlays for the future.

I like that additude
Bjrogg
Title: Re: Am I wasting my time
Post by: sleek on August 20, 2019, 08:59:23 pm
It's like cedar, its pretty fresh cut, then it turns a brownish color as it gets older.
Title: Re: Am I wasting my time
Post by: bownarra on August 21, 2019, 12:38:14 am
Yes the colour is not permanent, it turns to browny/grey.
It is possible to make a belly from it but there are many better choices.
Title: Re: Am I wasting my time
Post by: Del the cat on August 21, 2019, 01:23:10 am
It makes a pretty core wood in a tri lam...
Del
Title: Re: Am I wasting my time
Post by: Nasr on August 21, 2019, 06:00:20 am
I like your idea of making a core lam out of it del I am thinking maybe white oak back purple hart core and ipe belly. Probably a power lam out of something else maybe jatoba if I can find some laying around here.