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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: va on May 12, 2009, 05:15:00 PM

Title: Cedar/Juniper Selfbow Guidance
Post by: va on May 12, 2009, 05:15:00 PM

Hello to all the Bowyers on this site who I have stolen ideas from... I mean borrowed!

I have some cedar (maybe juniper) from a storm damaged tree at Dad's place.  I have experience making one locust selfbow that refused to die and several osage selfbows.  The early osage efforts were pretty ugly BUT I eventually got to where I made a couple worth shooting.  Now to the request.

ANYONE with experience with cedar selfbows can chime in with their lessons learned (mistakes, failures, etc.) and successes.  Then I will do the work and show the result.

This may take a couple weeks because of drying time and work-related travel BUT I promise to show the real result whether or not I am proud of it.

thanks in advance.

va

Title: Re: Cedar/Juniper Selfbow Guidance
Post by: Pat B on May 12, 2009, 10:52:00 PM

Eastern Red Cedar(ERC) is not a true cedar but a juniper(J. virginiana). It will make a good bow. I have made a few but one, an ELB style bow, blew at a knot. Hickory backed ERC is supposed to make a very fast shooting light in hand bow.
  In my shop I have a 49" ERC stave roughed out that is 1/2 heart-1/2 sapwood that I am going to sinew back it at some point in the future.
  I believe ERC dries relatively fast but if you can wait a year you will have a better stave to work with.
   For an ERC selfbow, I would back it with rawhide or silk just for giggles.

Title: Re: Cedar/Juniper Selfbow Guidance
Post by: va on May 13, 2009, 10:06:00 AM

PatB -

You are a master so i know i got some good info.

My plan is to get as many staves as I can that are at least 2" wide.  Then let them dry (taking precautions for checking).  THEN I will start on designs.

I draw 28+ when my anchor isn't floating out there somewhere.  Will ERC let me go shorter than 60"NTN?

I have sinew and deer rawhide, as well as a variety of fibers, so the backing options are covered.

can't wait to start.

Title: Re: Cedar/Juniper Selfbow Guidance
Post by: Pat B on May 13, 2009, 10:05:00 PM

With a sinew backing you can go below 60". I'm hoping my 49" stave will make 26".  I'm no expert and especially not with ERC but I've seen some nice ERC bows.

Title: Re: Cedar/Juniper Selfbow Guidance
Post by: va on May 14, 2009, 10:47:00 AM

anyone? anyone?  Buehler?

Thanks Pat B. I value your sage (or should I say no-osage) advice.

Surely there are others with 2-cents worth of advice.

The more the merrier.

va

Title: Re: Cedar/Juniper Selfbow Guidance
Post by: troutremble on May 18, 2009, 11:48:00 AM

Sorry VA' don't mean to hijack; I am watching this thread as I just cut a juniper tree and got three staves 60+" long. Dont want to screw them up like I did my first attempt as I wont have access to juniper any more where I'm moving. I'll just watch, thanks.