Walnut logs

[wildcat hunter]

I got some Walnut logs ( 6"-8" ). What do you think about self bows from the Walnut. I've read that you can use white wood only but I want to see whitewood and heartwood mixed on the bow. I made a Yew bow 3 years ago and its a beautiful mix of the two so, I want to try Walnut now. The logs are still green ( cut 2 weeks ago ) so it will be a while but" I may rough one out. Has anyone tried it ? Did it work ? Another question, is it possible to make one backwards - with heartwood on the back and sapwood on the belly ?? Might be hard to follow a grain but ? What do you think.

[Pat B]

Walnut makes a pretty good bow. Use the wood under the bark for the back. The bark should peel right off. If you take the bark off seal the back well. I'd split the logs in half, seal the ends and set them aside in a protected area to dry.
Make the bow overbuilt; 1 3/4" to 2" wide at the fades and at least out half the limbs before tapering to the tips.
 There usually is not much heartwood in a walnut log that size. You may get a little of the heartwood in the handle.

[LittleBen]

I second Pat's comments. Especially regarding the sapwood/heartwood. You can't dictate what a selfbow will be, the tree does that, you just need to free the bow sort of. Make the outside of the log the back as Pat said, and let what ever will happen happen.

[wildcat hunter]

Thanks for the comments, I really appreciate them. Of course "" as you know, I will not be satisfied until I try it ! I want to develop a back that leaves some heartwood on the belly. It does not matter if its a working part of the bow, I just want to do it for looks and of course I want it to shoot ! It will be a while though, the wood is green.
Thanks guys