First attempt....Looking good...Self Fulfilling Prophecy

[Dennis La Varenne]

Simon,

With regard to Daryl's picture about the lay of the growth rings, I have overdrawn it with an ELB cross-section with the edge-grain showing on the back and belly rather than at the sides. It makes a perfectly good ELB and, so long as the edge-grain does not run out of the bow at less than about 3/4 of its length, will produce a durable bow. It is far easier to get more usable staves from boards for both ELBs and flatbows than the horizontal grain method.

I would also like to point out that that most accomplished ELB bowyer, Len Buckland, uses this technique for his production ELBs using the same wood as you did - American Ash.

Dennis La Varenne

[TomMcDonald]

Brumbies Country, There's heaps for sale in Canberra at Monaro Timbers.

[Brumbies Country]

Thanks Dennis

I really appreciate your comments and I can now see that though I took alot of time re tillering etc, that my selection of timber (ash) was all wrong re the grain of that particular piece. I have one of Len's bows and modeelled the one I made on it. Len had done a really good job with the one I've got and I subsequently developed an enthusiasm for ELBs.

Tom, I got my last piece of ash from Monaro timbers. It was the only plank they had left and in retrospect not great. Thanks for the news that they now have plenty in stock and I will get round there and choose some for my next effort.

Simon

[TomMcDonald]

Thanks Dennis

I really appreciate your comments and I can now see that though I took alot of time re tillering etc, that my selection of timber (ash) was all wrong re the grain of that particular piece. I have one of Len's bows and modeelled the one I made on it. Len had done a really good job with the one I've got and I subsequently developed an enthusiasm for ELBs.

Tom, I got my last piece of ash from Monaro timbers. It was the only plank they had left and in retrospect not great. Thanks for the news that they now have plenty in stock and I will get round there and choose some for my next effort.

Simon

I'm gonna go in there this week so I'll have a look and let you know if they've got anything good.

[Brumbies Country]

Thanks Tom

I thought I might go over today. If I get there first I'll let you know .

Cheers

Simon

[TomMcDonald]

Thanks Tom

I thought I might go over today. If I get there first I'll let you know .

Cheers

Simon

You might want to ring them first in case I was mistaken.

[Brumbies Country]

Thanks Tom

I thought I might go over today. If I get there first I'll let you know .

Cheers

Simon

You might want to ring them first in case I was mistaken.

Tom, I rang them and they don't have any in stock at all, nor likelihood of getting any.

Back to the drawing board

Cheers

Simon

[TomMcDonald]

Thanks Tom

I thought I might go over today. If I get there first I'll let you know .

Cheers

Simon

You might want to ring them first in case I was mistaken.

Tom, I rang them and they don't have any in stock at all, nor likelihood of getting any.

Back to the drawing board

Cheers

Simon

Damn them. there was a massive pile of wood under the ash sign.

Is there another wood you want to substitute ash with?

[looseplucker]

Thats a tough break Simon - not much I can add to the words of wisdom of the other guys on the site except best of luck with the next one.

Monaro have some in stock??

When you go, give me a buzz, I wouldn't mind having a look myself.

[Brumbies Country]

Thanks John

I learnt alot. Turns out that Monaro timbers don't have any US white ash and worse still, no intention of getting anymore.

Thems the breaks I guess. I'm enjoying watching your progress via Ozbow.

Cheers

Simon

[looseplucker]

Cheers Simon - they do have hickory! Heaps of it. I was going to get some in a couple of weeks and cut out some billets for splicing. I'll let you know.

I enjoy watching progress too recently was not a day for progress. Breaks, yes.

[TomMcDonald]

Yes I was just there. They have a 1.6 metre bit of American Ash there I'm not sure of the the other dimenions, but it could be used if anyone wants to make billets from it.

[Brumbies Country]

Yes I was just there. They have a 1.6 metre bit of American Ash there I'm not sure of the the other dimenisons, but it could be used if anyone wants to make billets from it.

Well I'll be darned. I rang and she said they had nothing in the way of American ash.

[TomMcDonald]

Mm, annoying. The bloke there who I think is the owner said he had one stick and it was 1600mm long.
They didn't have much time for me there so I just wanted to get out of there.
I got a real good bit of spotted gum for $10 though.
Beware the young guy there doesn't know what he's talking about so don't take advice from him.

[Brumbies Country]

Mm, annoying. The bloke there who I think is the owner said he had one stick and it was 1600mm long.
They didn't have much time for me there so I just wanted to get out of there.
I got a real good bit of spotted gum for $10 though.
Beware the young guy there doesn't know what he's talking about so don't take advice from him.

Yes, I've about had a gutful of them but they do have the potential to provide the timbers we need. Having said that, I'm looking for alternative suppliers. Well done re the spotted gum.

[Len]

How good would a hickory backed spotted gum warbow look ?

[Brumbies Country]

Now you're talking Len . Great timing-was just talking offline to Looseplucker about spotted gum and the hickory backing makes a lot of sense. He'd actually mentioned hickory availibility earlier in the day


Cheers

Simon

[TomMcDonald]

The hickory there is very expensive. I got quoted about 150 bucks for a stave tat wasn't long enough to make a long bow.
But you could get your money's worth if you wanted to use it for backings only.

[Brumbies Country]

That's expensive. Might be cheeper to cut one off a hickory implement handle.

Simon

[Brumbies Country]

The hickory there is very expensive. I got quoted about 150 bucks for a stave tat wasn't long enough to make a long bow.
But you could get your money's worth if you wanted to use it for backings only.

Tom, I went there this afternoon. The hickory plank I was interested in was $138 for 2 metres. Part of the problem is it comes in such large planks re width (Seemed like 250mm). I ended up with some spotted gum and deferred on the hickory for the time being anyway, but I could end up going back.

Simon

[longbow steve]

Hey Simon, I will chuck in for half the board if that helps you? Make sure the grain is fairly straight on the top and sides of the board. Hickory is amazing stuff. Steve

[greybeard]

Hi Simon,

The price for the plank [if it is about 40mm thick] seems reasonable.

I am trying to add a bit of perspective to the cost factor.

The hickory billets that I am buying for making laminations come in the nominal size of 900 x 50 x 38 and are $17-82 each. With careful cutting two billets can yield sufficient laminations for three bows.

It is a fact of life that selfbows waste timber so we must be prepared to pay for that waste.

Daryl.

[Brumbies Country]

Thanks Steve and Daryl

I was reading some of Paul Comstock's "The Bent Stick" last night again ( it's become regular bedtime reading but doesn't put me to sleep) and there is enough good reference to hickory there, both as backing and the one hickory bow that he discusses the performance of, that I'm going back to buy that plank.

Meantime I've gone back today to work again with white ash. Daryl, that grain picture of yours and Dennis' superimposed diagram has caused me to rethink and was a great help.

Meanwhile I cut a 82" stave of elm today and took a couple of photos. This is a longer term plan but will get some info on a new thread before I go further with it.

Cheers

Simon