Here is a hazelnut stave that was my first attempt at turning into a bow. Being too eager and not thinking it out I reduced limb thickness from the BACK!!! There is still a lot of wood there, just not sure if it can be salvaged or not. Will backing it with sinew or rawhide keep it strong enough that it won't broke? Or is it firewood?
(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u31/snag23/shop002.jpg)
(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u31/snag23/shop001.jpg)
The first picture is of the belly and the second is of the back.
You might be able to chase a ring. Do you know what that means?
If you can't do that, a backing will make it work just fine.
I concur!
I've made a fair amount of board bows without caring which side was the back. I would look at the belly (which I know is really the back, ie. the untouched side in this case) and see if there are any run outs there. They will appear as step downs and be quite obvious. If you look at the edge a run out or up will be an area where the gain lines go belly to back. I also assume there are no knots. None. Anywhere. If the run outs or ups are at a minimum-say 2 per limb max) then I'd continue as is. Let us know. Jawge
Thanks, it is really hard to see any growth rings in this hazelnut. It is all so light colored without any obvious growth rings...but I'll give it a try.
Snag,
I can give you a couple goatskin rawhide strips to back the bow. I bought a skin to back the yew bow I made in a John Strunk class out at Nick's place. It was actually pretty easy to do. I used Tightbond II and wrapped them with some old ace bandages. Ended up with one small bubble which I was able to stick down after the fact.
I have enough left to back your hazelnut bow, and the hazelnut bow I am working on now too, if leaving the bark on doesn't work out.
Good luck chasing a ring. My stave has a bit of snakiness to it, and I have been trying to follow the grain. You might try a magnifying glass and a bright light to see them. That is pretty much the only way I have been able to find mine.
RonP
Hey thanks Ron! I didn't know you were making selfbows too. We need to talk! See you next Thurs.
OK. We will have to come up with a "selfbow" night, and I can write an article (I am supposed to be the TAB scribe!).
RonP