Help W/ Russian Olive bow

[crgibson]

Thanks for looking Kpeat,Inksoup,getstonedprimitivebowhunt and my Bud Kelly G,

 Russian Olive, elaeagnus angustifolia L

I'm not one for giving out much advice still in the novice stage, But I to never thought of using Olive wood it grows all over here in the Okanagan Lake area BC, Only tried it cause a friend give it to me and it looked dry, It had only been cut for one year maybe a little longer in a log shaped stave approx 5-6" bark on and never had the ends sealed, Seemed a little green when working it on the shave horse.. Was aiming for a 40# bow started shooting and after sanding out some tool marks it dropped down to 36lbs and took 5" of set.. It was said the wood more likely bent,and wasn't considered set cause it had not seasoned long enough. So make sure you season it good. Left the sap wood on with no problem with checking one post said they remove sap wood because it checked, I must have lucked out.Also it took dry heat good for me Got it back to flat the first time asked a few more?? on this site and one other, was suggested by P.Drums add heat just outside the fades IT WORKED SUPER GOOD, then I flipped the tips slightly let it re-hydrate for 4 or 5 days tweaked the tiller a little and gained 14# still holding 50# bang on at 28" I never did heat treat only used dry heat and olive oil for limb corrections and tips

During an hour or so of shooting it takes approx 1/2" of set, even on both limbs but recovers after unstrung, cool never had one do that before.

This may be really cool also about the Russian Olive tree the bark it strips off so easy in long strips knots no problem, May be good for baskets, woven quivers, and it may make a string if you know how I did make a little paint brush the other day to spread some glue lots of fibers when pounded and shredded.

So thanks all for looking and comments. Would love to hear back with some other R.Olive wood bow experiences

 So was just putting on a handle wrap and rest so I will post the finished bow soon Thanks,Chuck