About 9 months ago a tradganger from McAllen TX named Brian Payne posted a thread asking what Texas Ebony wood could be used to make. He and I PM'ed back and fourth for a while and the next thing I know a bunch of TX ebony logs showed up here in Houston. It turns out he had a bunch of limbs to prune in his and his inlaw's yard. Anyway we agreed that I would make him a longbow out of it and keep the rest as it is one of my favorite riser woods. Well I have already built several bows from it and tonight I started his. I decided to build his from logs from trees all cut in TX by me or a buddy or him. His riser will be TX Ebony, from his own yard, with Hill Country Cedar (actually a Juniper), and Osage Orange (cut in Lagrange). It will have osage cores, and Cedar belly lams, and it will be backed with S.TX Diamondbacks.It will also have a little carbon and glass. Ill post pics of the start and a few along the way as I build it after its done. I am also posting a few shots of other bows I built with Brian's Ebony. Kinda neet to be able to put something like this together for someone I met on this site.
The riser block and accent, core and veneer wood right after I cut it out. Notice all the scrap. Its tough to cut a square piece of lumber out of a log with my meger tools
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa194/togo1987/DSCF0498.jpg)
The riser block. I love to use the pieces with sapwood and heartwood it looks really cool!
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa194/togo1987/DSCF0500.jpg)
Another shot of the raw materials.
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa194/togo1987/DSCF0496-1.jpg)
here is a shot of some recurve risers I made with Brian's lumber.(they are rough in this shot and there is no finish on them.)
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa194/togo1987/DSCF0486.jpg)
And here is a finished LB I made from his Lumber.
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa194/togo1987/DSCF0303.jpg)
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa194/togo1987/DSCF0299.jpg)
Should be a fun project! Ill keep you posted.
Dan
Neat stuff Dan, thanks for posting the pictures.
BTW, what exactly is Texas Ebony ?
Thats awesome!
Pat,
It's a species of tree that occurs only in S. TX and N. Mexico. Very heavy and hard wood. Sometimes around 65#/ squate foot (heavier than Cocobolo or Mac Ebony. Not a true Ebony but very durable and beautiful wood, not to mention hard to come by.
Dan
Simply geogeous! Anyone happen to have the scientific name for that species handy?
Scientific name Ebenopsis Ebano. Copy and paste this URL to learn more... http://nativeplantproject.tripod.com/texas_ebony.htm
Those look great Dan...I am drooling! I feel like a kid waiting for Santa Claus. I don't know if I am worthy enough of a recipient for this bow but I will try to live up. Thanks again Dan, this bow will mean alot to me.
Aggie 1993...I have a book in my office that lists all the S. Texas brush, grass, and trees. I will try to remember to post the scientific name for you.
Send me some sheds if you have a couple Brian and I will make some antler limb bolts and riser overlays for it. You think I should find a way to use some Mesquite in this thing?
Mesquite would be cool too if it works...I trust your artistic ability. I have some sheds. What size do you need and how bleached can they be...also, how many do you need? I might have some extras laying around that you could use on other bows as well. I have them in my garage in a box so let me know some general guidelines and I will send some along.
Brian
Its best if they aren't too bleached. I could use about a Hundred or so. But as many as you are willing to part with is fine. Its best if they are 1 1/4" or larger across the burr.
Very nice looking bow. Congrats to the maker and the lucky stiff that gets it LOL<><<><
Dan, I will take a look. I have two that are just too nice to cut up...especially considering one came off the Anahuac WMA. I will send you whatever else is in there besides the dried out ones. Thanks again.
If you can find a big enough piece, Texas Persimmon is a beautiful black wood, and a true ebony (genus Diospyros)
Lucas
persimmon ???? Hmm, I have several of those, may have to whack one down and have a look see..
Where in Lagrange did you get your Osage? I have family from there.
Where in Lagrange did you get your Osage? I have family from there.
Yep,
Persimmon is an awesome riser wood. Very, very hard and pretty heavy. Problem is it takes a really big one to get that really dark heart wood. They tend to be 75%+ sapwood. The sapwood makes great core wood i'm told. It is nearly indestructable and can be used in carbon skinned limbs because it withstands shear forces well. I would love for someone to give me a big trunk to cut up. Would be worth a free bow if it is a big enough trunk.
My buddy Wade Schwake (Stripstrike1)is from Lagrange. He cut it on his mom's land. Can't give you specifics as I have only been there once to split a bunch of osage into staves.
That is going to be one very good looking bow you are getting there Brian. You are going to let me shoot it right? Please...
We'll have to look Dan.. There are about 1/2 dozen trees here that were around an old homestead. They are at least 40 years old ..
WOW that is pretty.... very pretty
Where in Lagrange did you get your Osage? I have family from there.
Very nice bow there. Texas Ebony is my all time favorite riser wood. Makes good lams for limbs as well.
Dan...I found you another rattlesnake, which has already died of natural causes and is sitting whole in my taxidermists freezer. I will pick it up this week and it should match with one or the other I already have. These are in addition to the matched pair I already sent you so they are for future supplies, I hope they help.
Beuatiful! Well done! :D
Pat, I might have to come out and visit if you cut one down. Like to send a chunk out to Dale. Very nice riser
You guys have my interest up in these old persimmon trees... I'll have to get over there sometime today to take a closer look.. Right now they have all their leaves. Wonder how long a trunk has to dry to be useable? How would you care for it from the time the chain saw took it down?
Dan, I have these antlers all boxed up and ready to go...there ought to be some usable material in there. I will get them out today.
Pat,
It will be a year or so before you can do use the Persimmon. How big are the trunks? It would be best if you had it milled. Cut it into 2" slabs from bark to bark. It will dry better that way and will check less. There is a guy in Huntsville that will mill wood for $75/hour. I would like to mill a bunch of Osage that I have access to. Maybe we can get together and have a bunch of lumber cut up. What do you think?