cherry staves??

[razorback]

I have lots of cherry around here so am interested in how this one works out. Keep us posted and don't hesitate to do a build-along if the fancy takes you    Also lots of pictures wouldn't hurt either.

For the more experienced, what would be a good backing to aleviate the tension problems and take advantage of the compression attributes.

I have heard that cherry makes a very fast smooth bow, but can be brittle. Would love to find a system that takes full advantage of this wood. it is one of my favorite woods.

[Pat B]

Elm or hard maple would make a good back for cherry. Thin hickory might and there is always rawhide and sinew too.

[fujimo]

so dumb question.....
what is hard maple, as apposed to other maples, and what other maples are there, and where does one find hard maple.
Ta.

[don s]

black maple and sugar maple are both also known as "rock maple" or "hard maple". black maple is closely related to sugar maple.it is often treated as a variety of sugar maple. the ranges are similar but black maple is more common throughout iowa. sugar maple extends farther into canada in the northeast. both are tapped for syrup. sugar maple is in extreme SE manitoba east to nova scotia, south to north carolina and west to kansas. don

[don s]

i get my information from NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY field guide to trees. eastern region. don

[fujimo]

ta don
wayne.

[Pat B]

Don, that is a book any wood bowyer should have and study...unless you are from the West. Then it is the Western Region edition.

[don s]

thats actually why i bought the book

[hova]

so not to hijack , but can sugar maple make a good selfbow? got 3 massive sugars at my ma's place just itchin to be pruned...


-hov

[Pat B]

Sugar is an excellent bow wood.

[b.glass]

I have found a source that specializes in edge grain lumber and I bought a cherry board. Is there any way to tell what kind of cherry it is?

[don s]

not trying to be smart but wouldn't your source know what type of cherry it is?

[hova]

don , lots of places either use a generic term (like pecan for hickory) , or are just part of it. ipe at my sawmill is just listed as exotic walnut . they also have listed jatoba which is the same thing...


im sure theres a way to figure it out , post a pic of what you got... id even hit half of the piece with a little water or acetone to show the wet colors...


-hov

[Pat B]

Bona, it is most likely black cherry(Prunus serotina). It is a common furnature grade wood. Ash or maple backings would work well for that cherry. Did they have either of these or hickory. If so get a board that is 2" thick and cut backing strips from the 2" side.

[hova]

what if you wanted a backing for a pyramid?! 2 inches would hardly do it...


just messin with ya. i might have to check out the local supply of this.

[don s]

black cherry (prunus serotina) is the species of cherry that is used in the TBB II. chapter 2, bows from boards. mark baker wrote this chapter. there is a pyramid design black cherry bow on page 29. it is 53#@28". grip is 6" limb width is 3" just above the grip then they taper in an even line to just over 1/4" nocks. i can't find the length though. this bow is not backed. also, the nocks are too small to cut string grooves. instead, a shoulder of fiber is wrapped on and glued. i'll see if i can find if he wrote what the length is.

[b.glass]

fujimo, sorry if I hijacked your thread. I would like to rawhide back my cherry bow.

don s, I think that bow was like 72" atleast. If I hadn't been so rushed the day I was there, I may have tried to find out. Quess I could call them.