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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: PapaB on February 18, 2010, 11:50:00 AM

Title: Black Walnut Selfbow?
Post by: PapaB on February 18, 2010, 11:50:00 AM

I have a lot of Black Walnut and was wanting to make a longbow from it.  Can I make a solid selfbow out of Black Walnut.  If not can I use it for backing white oak or red oak?  What kind of dimensions should I look for (I am aiming for 55#'s @ 26").

Thanks

Title: Re: Black Walnut Selfbow?
Post by: John Scifres on February 18, 2010, 11:51:00 AM

A selfbow will work.  Make it 68" NTN, 2" wide at the fades for 1/3 of the limb, tapering to 1/2" nocks.

Title: Re: Black Walnut Selfbow?
Post by: formerbutcher on February 18, 2010, 11:54:00 AM

I just made one from some BW i got this summer. I used the sap wood on this one. It turned out to be 45# @ 28" nice little shooter.

I would start out at 2" fades for most of the length then taper to 1/2" nocks to start with. 68" long would be a good start.

Good luck !

Title: Re: Black Walnut Selfbow?
Post by: formerbutcher on February 18, 2010, 12:18:00 PM

Looks like John and i where typing at the same time. See if this picture works. This is the log i got this summer.

 (http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/DSCF2024.jpg)

Title: Re: Black Walnut Selfbow?
Post by: Pat B on February 18, 2010, 12:34:00 PM

I've made a few BW bows using the sapwood right under the bark. Use John's dimensions.

Title: Re: Black Walnut Selfbow?
Post by: PapaB on February 18, 2010, 01:59:00 PM

Thank you for the great replies so far.

Title: Re: Black Walnut Selfbow?
Post by: John Scifres on February 18, 2010, 03:01:00 PM

I assumed stave but if you are using boards, make sure and choose them well.

  Board Bow iNstructions (http://sticknstring.webs.com/ferretsboardbow.htm)

Title: Re: Black Walnut Selfbow?
Post by: carver on February 18, 2010, 03:14:00 PM

better off to use white oak to back walnut, rather than the other way around.  1/8" to 3/16" quarter sawn backing strip.

Title: Re: Black Walnut Selfbow?
Post by: ChristopherO on February 18, 2010, 05:00:00 PM

I learnt that if you under build BW it will chrysal heavily.  But they are beautiful bows.

Title: Re: Black Walnut Selfbow?
Post by: PapaB on February 18, 2010, 05:50:00 PM

I will be getting the Black Walnut from a stave.

Title: Re: Black Walnut Selfbow?
Post by: Chris Shelton on February 18, 2010, 06:48:00 PM

Can I see pics of some of your bows?  I too have a-LOT of black walnut treetops down around my place because the landowner harvested the wood, so I have alot of pickens!!!