How To Make Bow Staves?

Рет қаралды 28,808

3 жыл бұрын

The video shows splitting Black Locust log and making it to the bow staves. The log was 5" thick.
Remember when splitting wood - the split must be going through the trunk pith. It's not equal with the center of the log.
I'm very excited about this wood. It looks pretty similar to Osage Orange.
What video should I make next?
Tell me in the comments your ideas!
❗❗❗Working on bows always remember about the proper use of tools and your safety - wear precautions like googles and gloves❗❗❗
All the best guys!

Пікірлер: 80

@brianspilsbury8953 2 жыл бұрын

I am looking forward to you showing us how to turn some of these crooked staves into bows. Great video!

@DreamcraftBows 11 ай бұрын

Many of these already are bows! Check out my newer black locust bow builds

@dejanseguljski5102 3 жыл бұрын

Black locust fantastic wood for bows!!!!!!! As good a osage

@DreamcraftBows 3 жыл бұрын

Yes it's great!!!

@DanSantanaBows 3 жыл бұрын

Beautiful staves and very nice video!

@DreamcraftBows 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks man appreciate it!!!

@malijyasra1802 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for all....bravo

@DreamcraftBows 2 жыл бұрын

Appreciate it!

@deerdy1315 2 жыл бұрын

Great videos thanks alot

@DreamcraftBows 11 ай бұрын

Glad you like them, thanks 👊

@MtKayak1 3 жыл бұрын

Hello from N.E. GA.. We have a lot of black locust here . Here in N.E. GA. they use BL for split rail fences. It is sold at stores were farm supplies are sold. I have gone to these stores and go through the stack of BL fence rails and select some that has already been split. I can pick and chose and select the right stave. I mean split rail . LOL. I have recently got back into trad archery after a layoff. I am now retired and have plenty of time to make some bows. I enjoyed your video. Let us see a video of you completing your black locust self bow. Thank You. Mike Fuller

@DreamcraftBows 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for comment sir! Wow cool way to score some bow wood. Great to hear that! I'm already working on BL selfbow video :)

@gabrielecaliendo4362 3 жыл бұрын

the black locust is a very good wood for arches but has a very long seasoning, I prefer to use the dead locust a few years ago with the rotten sapwood which is now aged and the heartwood is completely intact. congratulations for the video.

@DreamcraftBows 3 жыл бұрын

That's really interesting you say about using dead locust! Thank you for the comment!

@gabrielecaliendo4362 3 жыл бұрын

@@DreamcraftBows the black locust having very hard and waterproof heartwood makes this use possible.

@briangrignon8799 3 жыл бұрын

Like standing dead? I just cut one that was standing up dead.. Trying to figure out if i can use it. Anyone kno? I Got staves in the basement rn glued and drying.

@prizmatik8696 2 жыл бұрын

@@briangrignon8799 how did this go for you?

@daigans 3 жыл бұрын

i like this vidéo. it very interesting

@DreamcraftBows 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you a lot!!!

@Lomidze-D.90 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for your great videos♥️I have one question, i cut osage orange staves (their diameters are from 40mm to 90mm). what do you prefer, should inremove bark and put to dry on shady place, or should i leave bark and put it to dry on shady place? what is better way for good drying for this diameter osage staves? with bark, or without bark?

@QwadLuzr 3 жыл бұрын

English guy here. Just found land with LOADS of English Yew on it! 😈

@chais1111 3 жыл бұрын

no twist, no major branches, straight tight grain. pin knots are fine. Good luck

@DreamcraftBows 3 жыл бұрын

Wow that's great! Make sure you can legally get this wood. Yew is protected and endangered species. It would not be right to cut those growing naturally.

@QwadLuzr 3 жыл бұрын

@@DreamcraftBows oh these are endangered alright, they're being flattened for a power station. Land owner says I can take as many as I like. There's maybe 50+ down there. 😉

@DreamcraftBows 3 жыл бұрын

@@QwadLuzr Oh man, lucky you then!!

@chais1111 3 жыл бұрын

@@DreamcraftBows not all yew trees are good for making bows. I think that most English yew would be more or less marginal. Out here on the West coast of Canada we're a bit more lucky as far as that's concerned

@danielkiefer4428 2 жыл бұрын

Great videos! I'm curious to know what size logs you find optimal for making staves (length & diameter)? And I assume knots are best avoided.

@DreamcraftBows 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you man! I like logs being 6-8" wide and over 80" long. Yes, the perfect stave would be without any knot

@richardhoule4389 3 жыл бұрын

Great vid man! Ive been seeing alot on BL. i have a couple logs I've waited to debark and split because I've had locust check on me really badly. But I think it's time.. I've now been motivated to debark and split em. Hopefully they split as easy as they did for u! That first split seemed almost too easy. And in ur red oak vid.. like the wood just falls into halves for u haha. I've had some woods be a real pain in the arse!

@DreamcraftBows 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Richard! Yeah I've heard it tends to check easily... Have you made any bows from this wood already? I was surprised about ease of splitting too. Good luck sir!

@richardhoule4389 3 жыл бұрын

@@DreamcraftBows thankyou and no I have yet to make a bow from it. I had sum short off cut pieces I was practicing chasing a ring on. It's def hard stuff! Beautiful wood. I've only made a hand full of bows with only maybe 1 or 2 that r not a complete embarrassment haha so I would prob not be a good person to ask anyway. I plan on trying one with a trapped back wider belly when I get a good enough piece dry. Will be excited to see what u do with your pieces!

@mattiazuccolo629 3 жыл бұрын

what kind of varnish did you use? very nice video btw, as always

@DreamcraftBows 3 жыл бұрын

I used here nitro varnish. What gives a lot of protection is preferred. Thank you !!!

@rasmusforlorn7767 2 жыл бұрын

Anchor seal also works very well.

@puristconstruction4788 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome thank you. What type of timber’s are good to use?

@DreamcraftBows 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! There are many woods suitable for making bows: oaks, ash, osage, yew, hickory, maple, hazel, black locust, elm, fruit trees and many more :)

@EmielTalen 2 жыл бұрын

Sealing a quarter isn't necessary because when splitting, especially wet wood, the pressure inside is released. It will slow down drying. I have done it this way a lot and none of it checked or had splitting in any quarters or smaller pieces, dried inside in a few weeks time to 8percent moisture content

@pantx0 3 жыл бұрын

DANG! Very nice! How long after you split the staves did you apply the varnish? Same day?

@DreamcraftBows 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! The tree was fallen a month before I split it and made staves. I applied the varnish a day after debarking

@juliansosa2889 Жыл бұрын

Were this fresh wood logs? or were this already dry? cause those splits were insane, it took me almost a full day to split a fresh cutted american ash log, but maybe my technic was really bad, in retrospective, I strated from the middle of the log instead of the ends. Amazing video, thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.

@DreamcraftBows Жыл бұрын

These logs were laying outside for a couple weeks before I bought them from the selller. It was cold winter time so they were rather fresh. Particular species can be split easier than others. Well, so that might be the reason! Thank you for the comment, al the best!

@kevinemard5370 Жыл бұрын

What kind of woods have you used

@DreamcraftBows Жыл бұрын

Here it is black locust

@hounddog9514 3 жыл бұрын

Great video my friend! I have two questions. 1)Is it enough to put varnish only at the end and the back of the stave or you have to cover all sides of it? 2)Does it matter which side of the stave we choose to be the front and back of the bow?

@DreamcraftBows 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you my friend! Yes it is enough. You don't need to cover all sides. The end and the back of the stave are spots where moisture goes out quickly so the varnish has to slow it down. If you are drying in higher temperature you can apply varnish two times to increase protection even more The outer side of the stave and log has to be the back of the bow

@hounddog9514 3 жыл бұрын

@@DreamcraftBows thank you very much.You are the best!

@yanivabramov6981 3 жыл бұрын

Do you ever back your bows? Is it important to do it or can i skip it ? Im just starting with the bow making journey thank you for the video's ur amazing!

@DreamcraftBows 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment! If the bow is long enough and tiller is good there is no need for backing. I backed a few of my shorter bows with lineen twine

@yanivabramov6981 3 жыл бұрын

@@DreamcraftBows ty for the help love ur vid

@jackiefelker8263 3 жыл бұрын

A good backing will help your bow last longer. After getting down to a single growth ring, I like to cut the back of the bow off, smooth the cut down and glue it back onto the bow with a 3" reflex. Then tiller as normal. Makes the bow last longer and adds a bit of speed plus it cuts down on the amount of set the bow takes usually.

@daigans 3 жыл бұрын

hi, i am back on this vidéo because one of my neighbors gave me an ash (the all tree who's felt down in winter) so i have to split it and then to put it in storage place to let it dry but i would know if i should seal it and what kind of product (glue, painting ...), do you have a advice ? thank you . i don't want to make mistakes with thit wood .

@DreamcraftBows 3 жыл бұрын

If I were you I would split it, remove bark , seal staves just like I did in the video. Use anything that slows down wood drying. I use varnish. Good luck my friend!

@daigans 3 жыл бұрын

@@DreamcraftBows thank you very much so i will do as you say i wasn't sure about removing the bark so i will ! thank you again

@systemfile Жыл бұрын

Was this log seasoned before you split it? Thanks

@DreamcraftBows Жыл бұрын

No, I seasoned the staves after splitting

@kevinemard5370 Жыл бұрын

Have you ever tried aspen

@DreamcraftBows Жыл бұрын

No, I haven't

@cantorii6385 Жыл бұрын

dear master, please help. how to protect staves from insects? I cut an oak log. can I now cover staves with an antiseptic? Or oil.... what is better?

@DreamcraftBows Жыл бұрын

Remove the bark and seal both ends and back of the stave

@Davidthestratman7 Жыл бұрын

What varnish do you use?

@DreamcraftBows 11 ай бұрын

Water based varnish (Vidaron) 👊

@joshuamaharaj5383 2 жыл бұрын

Hey, roughly how do you tell the amount of time you need to leave a stave to season?

@bennichols561 2 жыл бұрын

I have been told oak is an inch a year to dry. I would guess a year for these

@bennichols561 2 жыл бұрын

Ok he said a few months. So maybe they don't want to be too dry

@dankolord Жыл бұрын

what do you mean by "prevent wood from *checking* " ?

@DreamcraftBows 11 ай бұрын

From drying cracks

@HUN-92 2 жыл бұрын

😎💪🏻👌🏻👊🏻

@DreamcraftBows 11 ай бұрын

👊👊

@ahmedjlidi2976 Жыл бұрын

how long do you dry it

@DreamcraftBows Жыл бұрын

A few months at least

@davidslefort6541 3 жыл бұрын

What wood are you using

@DreamcraftBows 2 жыл бұрын

Black locust

@Justin-op8gg 8 ай бұрын

Whats the point of de barking if you are going to just varnesh to seal after? Shafts seasond with the bark take forever to dry out.

@camf5187 3 жыл бұрын

Salutations ! Tes vidéos sont super et tes arcs très beaux 👍 ⚠ attention, le robinier ou "locust tree" à une particularité que tu ne connais peux être pas : si tu enlève juste l'écorce, ton bois va fendre en séchant ! En effet, l'aubier de cet arbre fait fendre le duramen s'il n'est pas enlevé. Il faut donc soit : laisser l'écorce (séchage lent) soit enlever l'écorce ET l'aubier ensembles! Sinon l'aubier fend et les fissures se propage profondément dans le coeur du tronc et... Poubelle ! (Flambée plutôt 😉) À +

@DreamcraftBows 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment my friend! You are right sapwood tends to check, that's why I sealed the back with varnish. All the best from Poland!