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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Flem on December 28, 2018, 02:57:19 PM

Title: Strange woods
Post by: Flem on December 28, 2018, 02:57:19 PM

I'm wondering who has used, excluding veneers, exotic or unlikely woods for their Bows. I am always looking at peoples trees with larceny in mind. I am really curious about Palm tree wood. It's in the same family as Bamboo, might be a sleeper? I have no idea where to get any, though....

Title: Re: Strange woods
Post by: wood carver 2 on December 28, 2018, 04:56:03 PM

Palm is beautiful and strong. I have a bamboo backed black palm longbow half tillered. I had to back it after a small defect on its back threatened to become a crack.
I really need to get this bow done.  :)
Dave.

Title: Re: Strange woods
Post by: KenH on December 28, 2018, 05:37:21 PM

Black Palm is the only palm wood suitable for bows.  The other species just have no strength and are very coarse strands.

Title: Re: Strange woods
Post by: Flem on December 28, 2018, 09:40:38 PM

Maybe I have not been paying attention, but I have never seen a Bow from Palm. Hell, I've only seen pictures of the wood. Never seen it advertised for sale.
Wood carver, do you think it would make a good lamination?

Title: Re: Strange woods
Post by: monterey on December 29, 2018, 02:25:07 PM

https://www.cookwoods.com/search?q=Black+palm&type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage

Title: Re: Strange woods
Post by: wood carver 2 on December 29, 2018, 04:57:34 PM

I found that palm glues up easily. I used titebond 3. It is very splintery though. Make sure that you round off the edges and sand carefully so the sandpaper doesn’t lift any splinters.
Dave.

Title: Re: Strange woods
Post by: Mark R on December 29, 2018, 05:47:10 PM

I've only used it on risers,yes extremely splintery, needs to be filled and sealed well, but well worth the effort imho,  be very careful on thin fades.

Title: Re: Strange woods
Post by: Crittergetter on December 29, 2018, 07:10:31 PM

I have used black palm a couple of times in risers. I do recommend stabilizing it if you can. It stabilizes quite nicely. I had Big Jim stabilize the palm in this riser for me as I’m not set up to do it.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181230/29ef1dbc6e0ea9e0d976564016982de0.jpg)


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Title: Re: Strange woods
Post by: Crittergetter on December 29, 2018, 07:12:34 PM

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181230/d287f41713827ec6fd756ef02a5f6f28.jpg)


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Title: Re: Strange woods
Post by: Holm-Made on December 29, 2018, 11:11:36 PM

Wow Mike, that is beautiful.