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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: CheapShot on February 20, 2009, 03:28:00 PM
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I have some Privet that is 4-5" in Dia. pretty straight and knot free. I was wondering if anyone has any advice, on how to best handle making staves out of this wood.
I tried a smaller log last year, split it into two staves sealed the ends, removed the bark and lightly sealed the back with some cheap wood glue. It developed cracks so bad I couldn't use it. This was in the middle of summer and I left the staves in my un-airconditioned barn. Would storing them inside slow down the drying process? Any advice would be appreciated.
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I have used privet for arrows with good results. It is very susceptible to checking if you remove the bark...at least the shafts will. I have a stave of privet in my basement but haven't looked at it lately. I cut it this past fall.
Privet is extremely hard when cured. Curing it successfully might be the only problem with it. I'll check my stave and report back. It is about 2" in diameter with the bark still on.
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Troy Breeding, owner of Sticks an Feathers made a bow or two from privet. He said it wasn't good bow wood.
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Thanks for the response guys. I think I'll go ahead and cut it, leave it in log form, seal the ends with the bark on. I'll let it dry for several months, then see what happens. This bow building stuff is kinda new to me. I have a hickory stave I'm working on right now, maybe by the time I'm ready to tackle the Privet, I'll have a better idea of how to procede.
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I have seen privet used for bows, some were good some were bad. Mostly they were made out of smaller dia. timber like you have. The bows that worked werent great just allright. The smaller logs can check badly. We have miles of privet growing on the Blackall Range here where I live and infact it is a pest. Normally it gets cut and mulched. A lot of the old trees are really big but I haven't heard of anybody cutting the mature trees and milling it up into lumber, I always took that as a good sign that the timber wasn't much good for anything because I am sure people around here would use it if it was...Glenn...
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Different kind of privet here Glenn. We have Chinese privet, very invasive and never grows more than 4" in diameter.
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Besides arrow making material, the only benefit privet has is it is a high protein deer food and they love it.
The privet we have here is Ligustrum sinense.
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No worries Eric, ours is the English variety, it's a real pest and cost to eridacate, it can be 18" to 24" in diameter. When it is dried it is very light and doesen't seem to have a lot of strength...Glenn...
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Sounds like the privet may be more trouble than it's worth. I think I'll pass on it for now, I also have a persimon tree about the same size, from what I hear it's a much better bow wood.
I have some privet shoots drying to make arrows from, probably a better use of my time. Thanks for all the responses guys.
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Is it the type of Privet that gets used as hedges. If it is and you cut the main stem you may end up with a bunch of shoots coming off of the stump. Ready made arrow garden.