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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: GREG IN MALAD on June 16, 2011, 03:47:00 PM

Title: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: GREG IN MALAD on June 16, 2011, 03:47:00 PM
My brother gave this to me while I was in Washington. I think it's myrtle, but I've never seen it this dark before. It isn't yew or doug fir and I can't think of anything else that grows in the northwest that is this color. What do you think?
  (http://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz110/greginmalad/100_1144.jpg)
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: KellyG on June 16, 2011, 04:46:00 PM
Wow what ever it is that is a big chunk, man if it is as big as it look. I see mantle or a bar top counter and heck cut a little off and make lam bow too. sorry cant tell  you what it is.
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: Colorado Joe on June 16, 2011, 06:18:00 PM
Could be a walnut. beautiful piece though, send all scrap pieces to me I can use em making knives  ;)
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: PapaB on June 16, 2011, 07:31:00 PM
Looks like Black Walnut to me.
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: GREG IN MALAD on June 16, 2011, 09:33:00 PM
It isn't walnut, doesn't smell like it, and it's heavier. I have a piece of myrtle I bought at Mcbeaths and it has a similiar grain structure and hardness. Whatever it is, it will be turned into veneer and risers once I get the courage to cut it into small pieces.
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: Sixby on June 19, 2011, 10:12:00 PM
Its Myrtle,. You get it in that color to a light tan. break off a piece of bark and smell it. I guarantee its myrtle. Oh and if you don't want it Steve will buy it (grin) that is a killer piece  I just bought one like it but its a bit lighter. It took me most of a day to mill it up. Be sure and seal it good. The stuff you cut up for lams will have to be bundles tight or they will warp like crazy. Once dry you are fine./ The piece I just cut was 4 years drying and still green.

God bless you , Steve
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: GREG IN MALAD on June 19, 2011, 11:34:00 PM
Thanks Steve,
This piece has been cut for at least 10 years, but I will seal it because it's drier here than in Washington. This slab is 60" x 16" x 2.5" and should provide a lifetime supply of veneer and risers.
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: GREG IN MALAD on November 04, 2011, 08:04:00 PM
It took a while but I finally cut up the myrtle and imagine my suprise when I saw what was inside.   :bigsmyl:  


 (http://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz110/greginmalad/100_1295.jpg)

 (http://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz110/greginmalad/100_1296.jpg)

 (http://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz110/greginmalad/100_1297.jpg)

 (http://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz110/greginmalad/100_1292.jpg)

 (http://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz110/greginmalad/100_1291.jpg)
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: BenBow on November 04, 2011, 08:38:00 PM
Nice!!!   :clapper:
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: ermont on November 04, 2011, 09:00:00 PM
That is really nice. I bet you knew it all the time!
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: Nim-rod on November 04, 2011, 09:21:00 PM
Wow! Impressive grain! Super beautiful bow!
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: Prairie Drifter on November 04, 2011, 09:34:00 PM
BEAUTIFUL
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: dmikeyj on November 04, 2011, 09:39:00 PM
Wow, great character grain, wonderful bow.
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: kennym on November 04, 2011, 10:17:00 PM
Whoooeee!!  :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: Bivyhunter on November 04, 2011, 10:18:00 PM
Absolutely beautiful veneers!
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: Trux Turning on November 04, 2011, 10:34:00 PM
Stunning!!! That is one sweet looking bow.
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: crgibson on November 04, 2011, 11:13:00 PM
Man shes a beauty, Thats some piece of wood. I'v seen that piece of wood before did you make a different bow,riser or something last year. Maybe I had a dream.  Super job, Crg
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: legends1 on November 05, 2011, 12:51:00 AM
Vary, Vary, Beatutiful!!!! Need a job?  :)
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: K30bowfisher on November 05, 2011, 01:38:00 AM
Wow Greg, That is awesome! That is nice looking stuff alright. Did you chronograph it?
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: Swissbow on November 05, 2011, 02:18:00 AM
Nice job ! The grain looks awesome.

----------
Andy
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: Roy from Pa on November 05, 2011, 07:40:00 AM
Awesome bow...
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: okie64 on November 05, 2011, 11:31:00 AM
That is an awesome lookin bow Greg! You got some serious talent.
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: GREG IN MALAD on November 05, 2011, 12:06:00 PM
Thanks guys. I just wish I could use a camera, my photography skills end with point and click.
Chuck, this is the first bow I've built from that board. I remember someone else had some incredible looking myrtle veneer.
I forgot to mention this was a new design for me. Earlier this year I bought a recurve and liked the way it shot, so I built a form and made one slightly heavier. This bow is 66" long and draws 51#@30" with a 23" riser. I haven't chronographed it yet but it is quick and very accurate.
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: blacktailchaser on November 05, 2011, 10:50:00 PM
wow,that is a great bow and the finish work is outstanding...i didnt know that washington had such good myrtle wood...john
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: Sixby on November 05, 2011, 11:51:00 PM
It probably came from Oregon. (grin)

That looks simply devistating!!!!

God bless you , Steve
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: Dmaxshawn on November 06, 2011, 09:15:00 PM
you have yourself a little goldmine there in veneers.  Absolutely stunning bow.

Shawn
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: Mark Smeltzer on November 06, 2011, 10:31:00 PM
I'm lucky enough to live near Greg and got to see the bow the other day. The pictures don't do it justice.  The bow is awesome and the veneers are one of a kind.
Great job.

Mark
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: Osagetree on November 07, 2011, 06:41:00 AM
SWEET!
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: Bradford on November 07, 2011, 03:45:00 PM
So.. what's the rest of it??? huh? huh? huh?..lol

The riser looks really nice, what woods and stripe did you use.

Great job.. very clean lines.
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: 2crazy2run on November 07, 2011, 04:02:00 PM
Smoooookin' !!!!
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: coaster500 on November 07, 2011, 04:22:00 PM
Wow!!!  

Jackpot!!!

Beautiful wood  :)
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: GREG IN MALAD on November 07, 2011, 07:12:00 PM
Well Bradford, I thought the limbs were the best looking part. The riser isn't anything special, it's zebra and bubinga with a maple/bocote accent stripe. The tip overlays are black/white phenolic.

 (http://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz110/greginmalad/100_1309.jpg)

 (http://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz110/greginmalad/100_1310.jpg)

 (http://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz110/greginmalad/100_1324.jpg)

 (http://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz110/greginmalad/100_1322.jpg)

 (http://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz110/greginmalad/100_1319.jpg)
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: bjansen on November 07, 2011, 07:28:00 PM
wow nice stuff greg!
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: Ric O'Shay on November 07, 2011, 07:34:00 PM
Super looking myrtle.
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: Blue EagleBum on November 07, 2011, 07:42:00 PM
Simply, AWESOME!
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: Bradford on November 07, 2011, 08:00:00 PM
Thanks for sharing.. the whole thing looks good.  I like the simple sweeps in the riser.. sexy!

Out of curiosity, why didn't you use the myrtle in the handle?  Is it not good handle wood?
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: GREG IN MALAD on November 07, 2011, 09:20:00 PM
Myrtle works fine in a riser, but this stuff has so much figure I dont think it's strong enough, and I didn't want to use several bow's worth of veneer to make one riser. Next year when I'm in Washington I want to find some straighter grain myrtle for risers.
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: ordcorpdw on November 12, 2011, 12:17:00 AM
That is stunning.
Title: Re: Myrtle? Included finished bow pics.
Post by: Buemaker on November 21, 2011, 07:53:00 AM
Oh Yeah, very nice and I like the sleek looking elegant riser. Bue--.