Drying without cracking.

[Kenny T.]

Hi my name is Kenny. I live in North Central Arkansas. I am wanting to try to make my first longbow and was thinking I would use oak or hickory wood, because I have an abundance of those types of trees. I can cut it down and split it into staves, but how do I dry it without it cracking?? Also, would I rough the bow out of green wood and dry it, or do I have to dry the wood before I start making the bow?

[mwmwmb]

welcome kenny   . I would say split into staves and seal the ends with varnish for drying.

But there will be someone with more experience along soon.

[Pat B]

At this time of year the bark will peel off the wood with little effort. Either hickory or oak will make good bows. When you cut a tree, split it into staves, peel the bark and seal the ends and back with carpenters glue or shellac. You can take a stave to almost bow dimensions and it will dry quicker so you will be able to make a bow sooner.

[George Tsoukalas]

I like to seal with polyacrylic. Jawge

[Kenny T.]

Thanks for all the replys, I really appreciate the help. I hope yall stick with me, Im totally new to traditional archery. Ive learned to shoot my montana longbow fairly decent, and the compound bows ive shot for twenty years just aint as fun. My son is five, and hes been shooting since he could walk and talk. I cant find a bow to fit him. Hes just a little boy, but hes pulling an 18 pound compound bow past his ear. Hes only got a 16 inch draw. Thats where I got the idea to try to build us a pair of selfbows from scratch. I figure hes been shooting instinctive all his life, why not find  or make him a bow that fits him so he can learn form. He may go to out shooting me then, though! Now then, if I rough out the bow so it'll dry sooner, do I still just seal the ends and back? I work off blueprints. Anybody have any rough diminsions on my boys bow? Or me one around 50-55lbs? Thanks again guys!

[Pat B]

What wood will you be using? A lot depends on that. Any time I reduce a stave I seal the back and ends unless I know it is completely cured.
   With selfbows, I think you will have to step out of the blueprint box. Each one is different and until you get your staves, it's hard to give you a design idea.

[shamus]

Pat pretty much covered it . Cut it, peel the bark, seal the back and ends of the stave.


   thoughts of mine on drying wood  


hope it helps.

[razorback]

Lots of build alongs in the how to section of this sight and in this thread, just do a search. There are also many sites on the internet who have helpful advice on building bows.
Good luck and start with the bow you are going to build for yourself. Seems like the first one usually ends up being a kids bow as we all seem to make mistakes and the weight or size ends up being better for a kid.
Have fun and remember it is adictive

[Roy Steele]

PAT said it all except after I put it up I like to spray mine the some sort of pestside.