working with guava.

[bigbob2]

I am about to cut down a guava sapling about 3''dia and around 7' long with some reflex and fairly free of off shoots.i intend to make a nice bow from it using the cambrian layer as the back.  Do I debark and clean the back up, rough shape it , treat it with white wood glue and put it away to season, or is there other options with it. Never used Guava before.

[Pat B]

Using the cambium as a backing isn't a good idea. Having a little of the cambium left on makes a good camo but the cambium can be brittle when it dries  and it can crack when using it as a backing.
 It is always better to season bow wood before making a bow. I've made 2 guava bows and it is a great bow wood. Do watch out for bugs. They seem to like to bore little holes in it.

[bigbob2]

thanks for your response Pat B. Having never made a white wood bow, I bow to your expertise. It was only from reading about white wood bows and how 'they' simply used the cambium [blurry eyes in my post!] as the backing  to these bows.I would much prefer not to use a backing when I do get to go at it, after it seasons.

[Pat B]

If it was cut during the growing season the cambium won't stick anyway.
 I think you can do both a deep belly, narrow bow or a flat bow with guava. I built a nice flat bow a few years ago that didn't take much set and shoots well. I think it pulled about 65# which was a bit heavy for me.
 The guava I used was strawberry guava from Hawaii.

[bigbob2]

These 2 staves would lend themselves to either style I believe Pat.I know the Strawberry guava is considered superior, but this is the common yellow guava which apparently is more than handy as a bow wood.How does it handle a bit of steam, as there are couple of bends [laterally] I'd like to straighten as they are in opposite directions towards the ends.I have heard that it doesn't appreciate dry heat like from heat gun, is that your experience?

[Roy from Pa]

Bob, Msturm " his screen name " from Hawaii, has made bows from guava. He has a thread or two in here about it. Maybe he could lend you some advice..

[bigbob2]

thanks Roy. I am aware of Msturm and his terrific guava bows. Apparently he isn't active on the bow scene these days as he had an injury and went more into air rifles. I think he was also moving to Italy.

[Roy from Pa]

I didn't know that, I hope he is doing well..

[Msturm]

Hey Bigbob2 I don't own any air rifles and aside from some mental issues            I am doing well. I think ya have me confused with Manny from the North Shore.  Which is extremely flattering.  I wish I was on that guys level! ( and he is still making bows too, just not so internet active anymore.)

I have used several types of guava and they all make a pretty good bow. The common guava will bend with dry heat or steam. I have had better luck with steam, but I have had dry heat work too for more subtle bends.

Common guava really likes a belly toasting!

As for seasoning. I treat common guava like strawberry guava. I cut it, peel it immediately to the wood (Before I leave the jungle) the cambium will come right off. As Pat B said you can leave a bit on for a  camo effect, but keep it thin or it will crack and pop off when tillering.

I usually don't bother much with dressing it up for seasoning, guava checks very little if at all. Just let it dry slowly and expect it to take a while. A year at least.   If I want to induce any curves I clamp it to a form at this point and let it dry for several months like that. If you are going to straighten your stave do it while it drys. It will hold better than waiting till later.

I have made a couple successful bows in both the flat bow style and the skinny  D belly profile.  

I am still learning and picking peoples minds about this stuff as well. So if you come across anything cool let me know!

Here is my latest strawberry guava hunting bow.   http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=125;t=013948;p=1  


Msturm

[bigbob2]

Hey Msturm! thanks for sorting me out! I did indeed have you confused with another guy! My apologies for that and thanks for answering my questions on the guava. I am looking forward to it seasoning and hopefully getting a bow out of the two staves.  

[passion for knowledge]

Bought a couple of pairs of women's boots from the thrift store at the weekend.

Got the 'funny looks' that I'm sure you are familiar with!

[bigbob2]

Nice bow too Msturm     what are the dimensions  on it?

[Msturm]

Hey there Bigbob2.  This bow is intentionally over built a bit. Guava will take quite a bit of punishment. And I feel like I could have gotten better performance with a little bit leaner design. So I have some ideas for the next one to say the least.

The specs are 54 lbs at 28 in. it is 69in nock to nock. Stiff handle. Handle is 4 inch with 1.75 in fades. Top and bottom limbs same length.  Limbs are just under  2 inches at the fades. and taper to 1.5 inches 9 inches from the tip. From there they strait taper to .5 inches at the nock... If I were to have a do over with this bow, i would have reflexed the hell out of the tips and made them skinnier.  I would have also made the limbs a bit thinner and the belly a bit deeper. and I would have toasted the belly quite a bit more.

I have put a LOT of arrows through this bow, and the tiller has not changed and it has not taken any more set. So it seems sound. But I bet with the aforementioned changes I could get a bit more zip out of her.

Hope that helps. Sorry for the novel.

Msturm

[bigbob2]

hey Msturm, hope you have a great New Year! Thanks for the nfo on the bow. I have steamed one stave and got a fair bit of the wobbles out and induced a fair bit of reflex into the stave. Probably  have to hit it with a heat gun later to get it a bit straighter. I'm thinking maybe 1 1/2''wide with a slightly rounded belly, and around 68'' ntn.