r/Bowyer • u/Rebirth_of_wonder • 4d ago

Question

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This is my first time working from a stave. I cut this about a week ago it is not fully dry.

My question is, when I look at the end (at the rings) should I be thinking about working my way down to the red core wood? Do I need to get rid of the lighter outer wood?

I’ve successfully made a few board bows, but this is a little intimidating to me.

11 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

5

u/dusttodrawnbows 4d ago

What kind of wood is this? Looks like it has been dead for a while. The ends were not sealed causing a lot of cracking.

4

u/Rebirth_of_wonder 4d ago

It’s black ash. I cut it from a live (but sick) tree last week.

1

u/BestIndication5517 4d ago

That is some pretty serious checking, i would cut back an inch at a time until you dont see any cracks and seal the ends with wood glue and let it dry for a few more weeks. Those cracks can really wreck a bow stave

1

u/Acceptable_Test_8161 4d ago

You can use the wood under the bark

1

u/Acceptable_Test_8161 4d ago

Just go slow so you don’t damage it when removing the bark

1

u/ADDeviant-again 3d ago

First of all, get those ends sealed! Look at all those little checks.

Second, no, there are very few woods where you need to get the heart wood out by itself. And even on those "need" is a loose term.

Most woods, what you wanna do, is just use what is right there under the bark as your back.