Sassafrass Selfbow?

[Lee Slikkers]

Greeting all,

I'm new here and new to Traditional Archery but I have the bug and want to jump in with both feet.  I've been reading all I can find on the topic of making a selfbow so I figured I could start with something I have here on my property.  

 
(disregard the pen marks on the end cut, I was trying to explain to my 8 year old son where I thought this bow might be hiding...which I may be completely wrong in my assessment)
 
 

This particular tree needed to be removed and I thought it might be an OK candidate for this Newbie...it's the end of January so assume this was a good time to harvest it (sap is down) and the tree had a nice natural reflex shape to it.  It is approximately 6"-7" in diameter.  Will this small diameter be ok and will it yield at least one or two staves?  The only down side is that the OAL is just at 60"  Will I be wasting my time on this since it's pretty short and not the "normal" 62"-66" stave?

Many thanks,

[KellyG]

Lee,
I will take a stab at this. The vetran bowyers will fill you in on where I told you wrong. Take everything I say with a salt lick.
Ok the would choice will make a bow. If you have  table or band saw split it that way. If not score it with a skillsaw and split. Take the bark off. Your back should be under he bark. If you try splitting it more than once ensure you keep them wide. Oh seal the ends and if you take the bark of seal the back.
being a white wood a flat bow bend in the handle should be good since it is short.
How I do guys and gals?
Hope I did not get you steered in the wrong direction,
Kelly

[okie64]

I've seen bows made from sassafras in magazines but they were really long, like 70" or so. At 60" its probably going to need to be pretty wide and a bendy handled bow like KellyG said. Ive never worked with sassafras though. I'm sure theres someone on here that has that can help you out.

[Lee Slikkers]

Thanks Kelly & Okie!

I spoke to friend of mine in TX who is an ol' fart and he said pretty exactly what both of you mentioned.  So here is what I have decided, I have 2 young men in my house (an 11yr & 8yr old) who needs bows as well...I think I will use this shorter length to practice my layout and tillering on and they should work out ok for them in the lower # range.

I just went back out for a walk in my woods and located a primo piece of Sassafrass that I cut at almost 8' and it is about 8"-9" diameter.  The natural reflex is not quite as nice as the 60" log BUT there is a slight amount and I can likely put more reflex in my stave or flip the tips if needed.

Thanks for the quick feed back and assistance, this Trad Group really is amazing.

Regards,

[KellyG]

Make sure you let us see them  either as you build them or once they are built. Pro to as build them everyone can see and help. Con if it dont work everyone gets to see.

Pro for after people think you are awesome and can do anything.
Con you may not get it built if you have never done it cause you did something that someone here could have helped you with.
Either way as long as you let us see I win and see a differnt bow.
Kelly

[Roy Steele]

I 've built a few sassafrass bows. And it's exstreamly light wood. And if not well seasoned or clamped it will warp. I

[Roy Steele]

Sorry about that. My bows were 62 to 64"s long. 1 3/4 to 1 7//8"s wide. 60 to 64#"s. One was boo backed. I split all of mine.  You won't beleive how light your bow will be.
   My first bow I knew it was completely seasoned.I was in a hurry so I took down to simi bow form to let it finish seasoning . The limbs warped exstreamly bad. So becarefull and make sure it's really dry.

[frank bullitt]

Go for it Lee! My second successful bow was of Sassafrass. Like Roy says, it is very light in physical weight!

It is comparable in weight and strength as red cedar. It is also pleasant smelling, and easy to work with tools!

My bow was built with dimensions, that Paul Comstock uses in his book the Bent Stick. Wide limbs and such! Have fun and learn from it!

[Lee Slikkers]

Thanks Frank!  I don't have Paul Comstock's book the Bent Stick, would you happen to have the dimensions or layout specs for that bow?  I'd really appreciate any assistance in this area.

Regards,

Lee

[frank bullitt]

Lee, Paul is an advocate of the overbuilt bow design, especially with white woods.

He based his on the Meare Heath design.

My bow starts out at 2" at the handle fades, for almost 3/4 length of the limb and then slowly tapers to about an inch at the nocks.
Nock to nock length is 68".

The Bent Stick is a good book for the beginner, and Paul has a chapter in the TBB vol 1 on these bows. Check them out!

[Lee Slikkers]

Ahh wonderful, thanks Frank...I just picked up the 4 vol set of the TBB's while at the Kzoo Show.  I've got stacks of stuff to read now so it looks like that is the smartest step for me to be making right now.

Thanks again,

Lee