Another new to me bowwood

[simk]

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]

...

[simk]

thanks for watching

[Roy from Pa]

Very nice...

[mmattockx]

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]

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

[Buemaker]

Looking good as always.

[simk]

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]

A nice build .....looks great!

[Stagmitis]

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

[Kirkll]

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]

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]

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]

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

[simk]

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]

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

[rmorris]

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

[simk]

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]

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]

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