Another new to me bowwood

simk · April 17, 2025, 06:03:39 AM

I had this log for a while and now made a first bow - interesting stuff - machanical properties closer to glass than to any other wood. And that's how it shoots

Not abig fan of it, but the looks is great of course - always remembers me of grandma's furniture

simk · April 17, 2025, 06:04:50 AM

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simk · April 17, 2025, 06:06:20 AM

thanks for watching

Roy from Pa · April 17, 2025, 08:33:11 AM

Very nice...

mmattockx · April 17, 2025, 10:55:58 AM

Quote from: simk on April 17, 2025, 06:03:39 AM
I had this log for a while and now made a first bow - interesting stuff - machanical properties closer to glass than to any other wood. And that's how it shoots Not abig fan of it, but the looks is great of course - always remembers me of grandma's furniture

What is it? The bow looks fantastic, your work is always so clean and elegant.

Mark

Stagmitis · April 17, 2025, 04:17:03 PM

That looks a lot like snake wood- if it is I can't imagine what you paid for it.

Buemaker · April 17, 2025, 05:48:51 PM

Looking good as always.

simk · April 18, 2025, 03:14:23 AM

Thanks guys! Yeah, Snakewood of course! Last year had a once in a lifetime opportunity to buy one whole big log - well, should we call a 30cm diameter big already? Anyways, when I lately brought it to my sawmill of trust it almost overpowered their big saw ---- and for sure they had to resharpen their blade after me

The snakewood surcharge on these bows will quickly cover my expenses....
Its more of a collectors thing. Such bow is only allowed to shoot on Sundays, wearing velvet gloves and only in the climatized bowhall

Bryan Adolphe · April 18, 2025, 08:53:24 AM

A nice build .....looks great!

Stagmitis · April 18, 2025, 09:44:45 AM

The only thing prettier is the country you're shooting the bow in:)

Kirkll · April 19, 2025, 02:25:51 PM

That stuff is not only very expensive.... It's like cutting concrete it's so hard. I can't even imaging using this stuff on just a wood limb bow..... I hope it holds up well for you. Kirk

simk · April 21, 2025, 02:05:02 AM

Yes Kirkil, the stuff is really hard and stiff. Whereas yew has a elasticy of about 7gpa (Osage 12gpa), this stuff is around 24gpa, while glass is around 30gpa => its closer to glass than wood. No wonder the shooting feels like a glassbow.
It sands well with fine grit and also works beautyful on the card scraper. Also I havent had many problems with checking....
It has been highly appreciated for bows since the victorian age and even Howard Hill used soemthing like that for his favorite 170# flightbow.
Having it in stock now feels like balm for my collectors soul

Simon

Kirkll · April 21, 2025, 11:13:15 AM

Interesting that you had no checking issues. I had just the opposite experience. But I suppose each piece of wood is different... hope she holds up well for you. Kirk

rmorris · April 23, 2025, 06:12:11 PM

I bet nobody else is wanting you to also post pictures of that log/ milled lumber...

simk · April 24, 2025, 02:40:25 AM

Fine. Got 4 boards - this is 3 of them. A few bad checks but I wont complain in this case - still plenty bows....

the little log was almost 90kg's...and cost me 1600 euros incl. transportation throughout half of europe.... I'm totally fine with that.

Stagmitis · April 24, 2025, 05:21:08 PM

I'm really curious- have you checked the moisture content?

rmorris · April 24, 2025, 05:53:45 PM

That is awesome! Thanks for sharing and congratulations on such a score.

simk · April 25, 2025, 04:35:05 AM

Quote from: Stagmitis on April 24, 2025, 05:21:08 PM
I'm really curious- have you checked the moisture content?

I do not have a moisture meter - but the wood felt pretty dry working it! Why are you asking Stagmite?
Thanks rmorris

Stagmitis · April 25, 2025, 01:38:24 PM

Best investment I ever made was buying a quality moisture meter- I've had a piece of 4/4 goncalo alves on my rack for over ten years- a month ago I cut two 3/4 x1.5 w/ 16" long pieces and glued them together for a handle and let them cook in my over(152 degrees) for a couple hours- next day I checked with the meter and they were at 11% moisture content! I profiled the handle and put it back in the oven for a couple more days before I reached 6.5 % moisture content which was suitable for glue up into a bow.

simk · April 26, 2025, 02:39:45 AM

Thanks Stagmitis! Interesting.

I think a have a pretty good climate here that finally leads to good equilibrium in my stash. I never referred glueing problems to moisture content. In fact, I rarely had glueing problems in my bowmaking. I had problems glueing certain tropical woods (e.g. bloodwood) with epoxy. Water based pva works better here for me. This bow also was glued with the white carpenters glue. I only use epoxy to glue horn an strange things like glass

Whats the price range for a trustwworthy moisture meter? It would of course be a nice to have....
Simon