Sweet Gum bow build

[Flyboy718]

The pole now has a noticable bend in it, not too bad though...which way should I do the back now since it has bend, tips pointing toward the belly or away from the belly?

I'm headed out now to cut her to 70" and find the center and measure the fades and get ready to start roughing it out...pending a reply to my above question.

[KellyG]

Choose the best side like Pat said, and you can clap it down to a board as it dries. You take out or and some bend as you need while drying. I am sure other who have done this will answer soon. It is the weekend so many are building.
Kelly

[Flyboy718]

I guess there is really no way around splitting it lengthwise...I can't clamp a round back to a 2X4...so, I am off to split it.

[Pat B]

You can clamp(or tie) a round back to a 2x4. I have done it both ways. Find the best side for the back. You can make any adjustments later with heat.

[Flyboy718]

Ok, I got it split...I did not get two staves out of it as my michete ran on me and departed the pole at about halfway down.  I wonder if I have messed this project up already?  I assume the back will be the split side?  I have a gouge in the split side closest to the camera too.  Thoughts please...
 http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k533/minden79/split.jpg
 http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k533/minden79/split2.jpg

[Pat B]

The back is the side with the uninterrupted growth ring, the crowned side.

[Flyboy718]

Originally posted by Pat B:
The back is the side with the uninterrupted growth ring, the crowned side.

Ok...so my back is going to be the non split side...the side that just has the bark stripped off?

[Pat B]

Yes!   You'll want to keep the belly side as flat as you can. With the crowned back the belly needs to be flat.

[Ken75]

one thing about sweetgum is it has interlocking grain like an elm, its sometimes easier to make skillsaw kerfs in the log before splitting. to aid in the split and also keep from having runout. and defintely strap tie or clamp down when you get it reduced because it loves to twist and warp. hope this didnt come too late

[Flyboy718]

Ken75, thanks...that will deff help next time.

One more question to throw out there...the back of the bow has a couple places where limbs were.  How do address this?  Just reduce the remainder of the little limb/twig as close to the back as I can get it?