Thought I would share my effort at following the ring on a Black Locust stave yesterday evening. This was only my second attempt at working wood for a bow. Nearly 20 years ago I got the wild hair and worked a piece of osage lumber down to a pretty shape but the first pull caused it to loose the top limb in a spectacular way. I didn't understand much of anything about it then or that the ring needed to be kept in tact for the back. After checking out the Bower's Bible from the library and rereading certain chapters of it umpteen times I decided to play with some old logs saved back to make tie rails and fence posts.
Cutting firewood is one thing but this was my maiden voyage in splitting staves from a log. My son and I huffed and puffed in the humidity but gained the satisfaction of generating 4 staves when all was done.
Well, I made a pile of shavings with the draw knife to clean the sap wood off one. I really don't think this particular tree will suit my needs very well as it has a slight twist but worse, yet, is that the early wood seems to be thicker than the late wood. All the, or nearly all, the sap wood is now removed and the ends coated in glue. Now when I find time one ring needs to be zeroed in on and brought to the surface. If this stave can be turned into a useful tool I expect it to have light draw weight. That is fine and I will give it to one of my girls. If it can't then it will be kindling for the stove. Either way I've finally gotten back on the horse to give it another ride.
Topic: Making Staves & Learning The Craft (Read 416 times)
