« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Mulberry  (Read 304 times)

Offline Bow-cephus

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 67
Mulberry
« on: March 02, 2010, 01:39:00 PM »
Well who has made self bows out of mulberry? Also does it affect anything if it is fruitless? I have several around my house and see some good potential staves. Would really like to hear some feedback on this.

Thanks!  :campfire:    :archer:
Logged
Mathew 17:20-21

Offline George Tsoukalas

  • TG HALL OF FAME
  • Trad Bowhunter
  • *****
  • Posts: 2922
Re: Mulberry
« Reply #1 on: March 02, 2010, 02:14:00 PM »
I have made one from it. It is a good wood. It likes  a heartwood back so you have to remove the sapwood. Jawge
Logged

Offline Pat B

  • TG HALL OF FAME
  • Trad Bowhunter
  • *****
  • Posts: 15009
Re: Mulberry
« Reply #2 on: March 02, 2010, 03:06:00 PM »
Mulberry makes very good bows. Treat it like osage but make it 10% longer and wider than an osage. Like George said you remove the sapwood and use the heartwood. I have made mulberry bows with a few rings of sapwood left on and they shot fine. They were thicker than an all heartwood bow would be.
Logged
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!
TGMM Family of the Bow

Offline Pat B

  • TG HALL OF FAME
  • Trad Bowhunter
  • *****
  • Posts: 15009
Re: Mulberry
« Reply #3 on: March 02, 2010, 03:08:00 PM »
...and if it is a true mulberry(Morus sp.) being fruitless shouldn't matter.
Logged
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!
TGMM Family of the Bow

Offline George Tsoukalas

  • TG HALL OF FAME
  • Trad Bowhunter
  • *****
  • Posts: 2922
Re: Mulberry
« Reply #4 on: March 02, 2010, 03:44:00 PM »
Good point, Pat. That's true of the other heartwoods (black locust and osage) too. If you must leave the sapwood on because of lack of enough wood then go as close as you can to the heartwood for the back of the bow. Jawge
Logged

Offline shamus

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 354
Re: Mulberry
« Reply #5 on: March 02, 2010, 04:18:00 PM »
good stuff, red mulberry. Imagine as less-dense osage. Make it 20% wider than an osage design and you're good.
Logged

Offline Bow-cephus

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 67
Re: Mulberry
« Reply #6 on: March 02, 2010, 07:45:00 PM »
Thanks guys I like to hear that; I've never tried osage either although I would about kill for a straight grained board of it!
Logged
Mathew 17:20-21

Offline Silent Bear

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 144
Re: Mulberry
« Reply #7 on: March 03, 2010, 11:40:00 AM »
Yes fruitless mulberry seems to be good bow wood I have made a couple nice sinewed shortbows with it
Logged
When a man speaks of truth he has nothing to hide. - Silent Bear

When a man moves away from nature his heart becomes hard. - Lakota

When we show our respect for other living things, they respond with respect for us. - Arapaho

Offline Bow-cephus

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 67
Re: Mulberry
« Reply #8 on: March 03, 2010, 09:18:00 PM »
Thanks again I'll have to try it! When should I cut a stave and how long do I have to dry it?

Also do I need to dry it before I saw/split it or after?
Logged
Mathew 17:20-21

Offline Pat B

  • TG HALL OF FAME
  • Trad Bowhunter
  • *****
  • Posts: 15009
Re: Mulberry
« Reply #9 on: March 03, 2010, 11:36:00 PM »
Cut the log, split it and seal the ends. Like with osage, if you remove the bark also remove the sapwood and seal the back. Ideally I'd give it a few years to dry but that process can be speeded up.
Logged
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!
TGMM Family of the Bow

Offline Bow-cephus

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 67
Re: Mulberry
« Reply #10 on: March 04, 2010, 12:31:00 AM »
Ok, what should I use as a sealant? I've never tried to takle a bow out of a true stave before.
Logged
Mathew 17:20-21

Offline Pat B

  • TG HALL OF FAME
  • Trad Bowhunter
  • *****
  • Posts: 15009
Re: Mulberry
« Reply #11 on: March 04, 2010, 12:47:00 AM »
You can use carpenters glue, shellac, varnish, wax and others.
Logged
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!
TGMM Family of the Bow

Offline Bow-cephus

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 67
Re: Mulberry
« Reply #12 on: March 04, 2010, 02:44:00 AM »
Ok thanks guys I'll have to give it a try and if any of you wanna trade a osage stave to me for mulberry just let me know!
Thanks!!
Logged
Mathew 17:20-21
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »

Users currently browsing this topic:

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
 

Contact Us | Trad Gang.com © | User Agreement

Copyright 2003 thru 2024 ~ Trad Gang.com ©