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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: mikkekeswick on December 16, 2014, 02:08:00 AM

Title: Black palm for limbs
Post by: mikkekeswick on December 16, 2014, 02:08:00 AM
Hi, as the title suggests i'm looking for any thoughts on using black palm as my main limb lams under glass.
Does the weird grain pose any problem? Air bubbles etc?
Title: Re: Black palm for limbs
Post by: Bivyhunter on December 16, 2014, 05:15:00 PM
I've used it, might as well use black glass as you loose any/all of the grain under the glass. I was pretty disappointed.
Title: Re: Black palm for limbs
Post by: bigbob2 on December 16, 2014, 07:16:00 PM
I had the same result with Wenge as a lam, could have been black glass just as you say. However I've used red palm and it did show the wild grain quite well.
Title: Re: Black palm for limbs
Post by: mikkekeswick on December 17, 2014, 02:28:00 AM
Umm interesting.....well lams are cut and ground so I guess we'll just have to give them a try. It's getting close to Christmas!
Title: Re: Black palm for limbs
Post by: mikkekeswick on December 22, 2014, 03:23:00 AM
Well I must have selected different pieces of b.palm because we have just finished tillering the bow and it looks drop dead stunning. The black palm is clearly visible. I've used ekki for the tapers and an ipe parallel, 0.030 clear glass, lignum vitae nock and handle overlays.
It also shoots like a dream, fast with zero handshock.
My mate is filing and sanding like a demon now! Once it's all smooth and finished up i'll post some pictures.
Title: Re: Black palm for limbs
Post by: Pheonixarcher on December 23, 2014, 12:15:00 AM
Looking forward to seeing this one!
Title: Re: Black palm for limbs
Post by: canopyboy on December 23, 2014, 04:58:00 PM
We don't believe anything without pictures Mike, even if they're "in progress."
Title: Re: Black palm for limbs
Post by: Buemaker on January 05, 2015, 05:45:00 PM
Pics ? Bue--.
Title: Re: Black palm for limbs
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 05, 2015, 08:24:00 PM
I'd love to see the pictures...
Title: Re: Black palm for limbs
Post by: Boobacker on January 06, 2015, 09:27:00 AM
:deadhorse:
Title: Re: Black palm for limbs
Post by: mikkekeswick on January 06, 2015, 01:23:00 PM
Ok, ok!! I'll take some tonight, i'm just about to head over to his house for a bit of shooting.
Title: Re: Black palm for limbs
Post by: mikkekeswick on January 08, 2015, 03:28:00 AM
Ok finally!!!!!
Here are some pictures but i'm afraid they were took in a poorly lit barn. Anyway you get the idea.
 http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/020-6.jpg
 http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/019-4.jpg
 http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/018-6.jpg
 http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/017-1.jpg
 http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/015-4.jpg
Title: Re: Black palm for limbs
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 08, 2015, 06:41:00 AM
Very nice, Mike..
Title: Re: Black palm for limbs
Post by: Buemaker on January 08, 2015, 06:49:00 AM
Nice. That Ekki is hard stuff I beleive, do you have contact info to a firm that sells it. I have read it can check badly when drying? Bue--.
Title: Re: Black palm for limbs
Post by: mikkekeswick on January 08, 2015, 08:09:00 AM
I've had this piece drying slowly for three years now and it's only just getting to the point where the board doesn't want to check! It's only 1 1/4 thick as well.
Ekki is hard but I have started to really like it now because of it's 'workability'. It sands like a dream and doesn't clog paper like normal woods of similar density. It's about 0.90 s.g.
Unfortunately the place where I get it from doesn't sell to the public. I was lucky enough to meet one of the owner's while out climbing one day, we got talking and I told him about making bows that's when he said about what he did. They specialise in wood for big marine construction jobs. They have their own team of loggers who cut the wood specifically for them, it goes straight on a ship and then they cut it up on site. The first time I went up I was blown away....20 yard long, 4 foot round greenheart trees, purpleheart logs, ekki logs etc....the saws they have are unbelieveable! I heard one start up, it took about 10 minutes and sounded like a jet engine!
Title: Re: Black palm for limbs
Post by: mikkekeswick on January 08, 2015, 08:11:00 AM
Buemaker - Meant to say I could probably sort you some out though if you didn't want massive pieces!