Want to build and hunt with a self bow

[recurve25]

I would like to build a bow from a stave, but with work and life bow season kind of snuck up on me this year. Is there a good way to quick dry a stave?

[Pat B]

Get a stave and let it be seasoning. After this hunting season, when things calm down will be a good time to learn, get the bow built and learn to shoot it well enough to hunt with next year. If you haven't built a bow before you might want to start with a board bow and learn proper tillering before you jump into a more expensive stave.

[recurve25]

Thanks Pat B. I have built 5 board bows. Just never one from a split stave.

[Pat B]

To build a good bow you need seasoned wood. I'd say one year at least but longer is better. Trying to build one this close to hunting season, even with well seasoned wood would put you in a rush...the worst possible place to be for building wood bows.

[Black Mockingbird]

While I am in the you need seasoned wood camp to build a bow,its not the only way to do things and still have a great bow...I don't do the quick dry thing much anymore,but I did this one earlier this year with fantastic results...and not even the best bow builder in the world could tell the difference if it was seasoned or quick dried if they didnt know beforehand...now I have a lot more bows under my belt than you...but this is just one of many exaples out there of what can be achieved with quick drying wood...

This bow was basically flinging arrows a month of the stump...and it hasn't changed a lick since I posted it either,and still shoots awesome

 http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,46646.0.html

Do some researching on how to quick dry wood...you can do it very fast if done right with good results.and build you a very long lasting serviceable bow to hunt with...and that's a fact jack...

I'm just playing devils advocate to pats reply basically letting you know there are other ways and alternatives and still have blood on your arrow at the end of the day  

[Pat B]

I agree that whitewood can be dried quicker.

[takefive]

No opinion here on seasoning vs. quick drying, you both make good points and have made more bows than I ever will.  Just had to comment that your bow is a beauty, Chris.
Gotta agree with Pat that the last thing you want to do is add the pressure of a deadline when you're making one.  Then again, if you have the free time...
How's that for straddling the fence?    

[Black Mockingbird]

Regarding this topic and many others about bow building you will find out that there are many different ways to skin a cat with good results,and no different way is wrong...find out all the "right" different ways to do something and try them all and form your own opinion,and do what works best for you    

I'm just making it aware one other option to the one already mentioned is all...     adding to the info...95%+ of the time I use seasoned stock tho     and that's because I have a plethora of it after doing this for a good while now...but when one first starts they have nothing seasoned without paying someone else money for one...if your cheap like me you'll do like how I started out and go cut some small sapling sized trees,reduce em down and quick dry em,then go cut some more after those are set aside to dry,and then the first batch might be dry by the time your on your third batch etc etc...catch my drift? That way when ya come back to your first batch you'll have gained some more knowledge etc etc...

Oh...thanks for the compliment Greg  

[LittleBen]

That's a hell of a bow!

Anyway regarding seasoning vs quick drying, I'll leave it to the experts, but I think once you get started on staves it probably Doesn't matter cause you end up with a ton o staves and alot less time so they get dry before you get to them.

[KenH]

Kiln vs air dry seasoning -- IMHO depends on the species...

[George Tsoukalas]

When is hunting season?

If you have the stave, start working it into a bow. You can rough it out and start floor tillering it. Get it bending an inch or 2 and let it dry.

If you have a moisture meter you can monitor the MC. Work in the bow and stop when you get a reading greater than 10 percent.

I like hickory at 6-8 percent and everything else at 8-10 oercent.

If you don't have a meter weigh it until you get a constant weight and then wait a few days. It will probably be ok but you won't know for sure.

Once you've made a few you an tell by the shavings if the wood is ready. Shavings should be crinkly.

I used to dry wood by using a metal stive pipe with a light on the bottom. I never left it overnight and never left it when we were out of the house. I just suspended the stave into the pipe with a string. Got turn it over everyday.

Jawge

[George Tsoukalas]

Here's my site. Jawge
 http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/index.html

[recurve25]

Thanks for all your input guys. You all made very good points.

Black Mockingbird that is a beautiful bow!

Thanks George Tsoukalas. I now have your site bookmarked. Archery season runs from Sep 6 2014 - Jan 19 2015. I prefer to do my bow hunting late in the season so I thought I might have enough time to dry a stave. It's not a big deal if I have it for this season. Like most folks here I have plenty of bows!