Some tree cutting advice needed

[monterey]

Ok, I've done boards and glass lams but never a stave.  But.. I have access to a largish juniper and wonder about how to go about dealing with it.  Should the ends be painted immediatley?  Should the staves be split out immediatley?  What are the prospects for this wood?

Not even sure if Juniper is the correct species.  These trees grow abundantly in the foothills of the rockies here in co.  They fall in between the ponderosa pines and the oak brush with some mixing.

[red hill]

I haven't dealt with juniper other than shooting my ambush bow from Keenan Howard, but I would definitely seal the ends immediately. Shoot Keenan a PM if he doesn't pipe up on this post. He works wonders with juniper.

[macbow]

Juniper has small berries.
Seal any cut logs or staves.

[monterey]

Yes, small blue berries on it.

[Pheonixarcher]

Am I missing something? What does the small blue berries have to do with the quality of wood for bow making? Or is this just to help identify the species? Inquiring minds want to know! Lol.

[LittleBen]

When I cut ERC, I seal the ends with wax or somethign like that. Seems to work OK. Then I'll saw it into staves and I usualyl let it season for a while ... a year or so, then rough out the bow, let it sit for another few months inside ... then get to sinewing or whetever you choose to do.

[monterey]

Pheonix,  Yes, it was about identification.  We have trees here (and you prob have the same ones there) that are called juniper and some called cedar.  I'm not sure which is which or whether they are the same or???????  BTW, are you a bowman risen from the ashes or a displaced Michigander?

Ben, I was going to try to split the staves out but it could be tough since the tree is at least 12" in diameter and maybe 14".  What kind of equipment do you saw with?  

Also, since 72" is probably the max length bow to be attempted, what length should the log be?

[Don Stokes]

Eastern red cedar is actually juniper, and is closely related to western juniper. True cedars are larger trees when mature, like Western red cedar. Then there is Port Orford cedar, which is actually a false cypress... clear??

[monterey]

Ok, so you guys with ERC and or Western juniper experience, how wide should the staves be when going for a bow in the 45 to 55 range?