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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: B-DOG on November 05, 2016, 07:53:00 PM

Title: Eastern red cedar
Post by: B-DOG on November 05, 2016, 07:53:00 PM

Found s nice straight Easter red cedar tree today. How do they work for a self bow. What is a good design?

Title: Re: Eastern red cedar
Post by: Pat B on November 05, 2016, 09:04:00 PM

ERC makes a great bow but can be finicky. For a 28" draw I'd go no less than 66", 1 1/2" to 1 3/4" wide out half each limb then taper to 1/2" tips for now. I'd also rawhide back it.
 When you cut the tree cut it long, 6' at least and seal the ends. After a week or so split the log in half and set it off the ground and out of the wind and weather to season. After a month or so you could split it down to staves.

Title: Re: Eastern red cedar
Post by: B-DOG on November 05, 2016, 09:09:00 PM

Thanks