Eastern Red Cedar Self Bow?

[Cottonmouth]

My grandmother's place has several HUGE cedars, and I believe they are eastern red cedars from comparing the needles, etc, to pics on google. One just had a very large split break off, and I'd like to make a self bow from it if I can.  By large split, I mean 25-30' long, 18"tapering down in circumference on one of the branches, the other is 12-15' long, 10-12" in circumference tapering down on the other that has broken off.  My grandmother used to make me bows and arrows when I was a kid out of branches so I could play Robin Hood and Tarzan, lol.  She was my favorite relative.  Building this would mean alot to me. Any advice?

[bjansen]

Check this link out...it has in great detail an english longbow build using eastern red cedar.
 
 http://***********.bowsite.com/TF/lw/thread2.cfm?forum=23&threadid=181950&messages=83&CATEGORY=4

Best of luck


You can also check out The Bowyer's Bible Vol 1  which will tell you the proper way to obtain the staves for your bow.  In summary you will want to cut the logs to length (i.e. around 74" or so) then seal the ends.  Then split out staves with wedges.

[Diamondback59]

cotton mouth  thats what i do with my erc   make self bows with it just like this bulidalong brad sent ya iv got some e r c staves seasoning for just that now ,,, word of advice  do  debark  ur stave right away seal the ends with wax  and seal the sap with anchorseal the bettles will eat ur sap  up if you dont  i leave the sap on all my erc bows and it make s em much stronger in tension   and also good looks like  in a yew stave   have fun good luck brock

[Roy Steele]

Cader will make a bow but two things.You have to make your limbs wide 2"s.And I'd say at least 64"s.Or you can make it a little narrower a little shorter and back it.But wide,long and backed you come to a place where theres to much mass in your limbs.

[Cottonmouth]

I was thinking of a pyramid shaped, I like that...