Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Catkinson on June 18, 2022, 03:26:43 pm

Title: While I wait
Post by: Catkinson on June 18, 2022, 03:26:43 pm

I’m Kinda of a Newby , I’ve built bows out of hickory and red oak and have Osage that’s drying ( will be ready next may .)
In meantime I’ve noticed some ash and pecan trees on a property I hunt .
My question is drying them . If I cut a tree down and split into staves what’s the drying time and method etc .
Thanks in advance!!

Title: Re: While I wait
Post by: Pat B on June 18, 2022, 05:07:37 pm

The longer the better but you could have a shooting bow in a month or 2 if handled correctly.
 My choice of the two would be the pecan which is similar to hickory, actually the same genus.

Title: Re: While I wait
Post by: bradsmith2010 on June 18, 2022, 06:53:16 pm

I agree longer the better,, but if you rought it out to floor tiller,, and keep a fan on it,, you can have a bow sooner than most think,,
it might not perform like aged stave, but will kill a deer,,

Title: Re: While I wait
Post by: Catkinson on June 19, 2022, 12:59:49 am

Thanks
I’ve only finished board bows so far so was unsure on aging ( drying out ) white wood .

Title: Re: While I wait
Post by: George Tsoukalas on June 22, 2022, 10:24:23 am

Roughly, it rakes 1 year for every inch of thickness. Do remove the bark. If you do that is the back of your bow.

You can rough out a stave and even get it bending an inch or 2 and it will dry faster.

Be leary of quick drying methods until you get a bit more experience.

More on my site.

http://traditionalarchery101.com

Jawge

Title: Re: While I wait
Post by: Hawkdancer on June 22, 2022, 01:51:01 pm

All of the above, and it also depends on where you are.  Things dry out faster in low humidity regions, like the high plains, mountains and deserts.  Good luck and have fun!
Hawkdancer

Title: Re: While I wait
Post by: Buckskinner on June 22, 2022, 02:17:26 pm

I was in your shoes in January, cut down a hickory (as Pat stated, Pecan is in hickory family) and cut into staves. Took 2 staves and cut out profile of bow and thinned to about 3/4" on the limbs.  I placed them above the furnace in my shop and weighted them every couple days until they stopped losing weight.   I have a log of it somewhere, I think it took about 6 weeks to stop losing water weight.  You being in pecan country, I'm sure you can find a warm spot, one that's not real humid might be the challenge...

Title: Re: While I wait
Post by: gutpile on June 22, 2022, 02:57:42 pm

depends on where you live.. if down south with high humidity a year minimum on hickory split or  6 months inside roughed out.. out west maybe 3 months.. gut

Title: Re: While I wait
Post by: George Tsoukalas on June 23, 2022, 11:05:20 pm

While you wait make a board bow. Info on my site. Link is above. Jawge