I've been off work for a week so I've been playing at bow building. I have a Hackberry that is rehydrating so I decided to chew on a Sassafras stave today. Man talk about instant gratification!!! This stuff slices like butter. I am almost finished with a 71" ELB but have enough wood left for a second bow but it's all heart. The Elb is about 50@27 and seem plenty strong (I shot about 30 arrows thru it today)? I've heard that Sassafras needs to be backed but it feels ok? Can I make another bow with just the heartwood left?
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Sassafras%20ELB/SassafrasELB003.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Sassafras%20ELB/SassafrasELB002.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Sassafras%20ELB/SassafrasELB001.jpg)
If the first one came that easy, I say try it and let us know. Worse case you spend a few hours building a bow thats going to break. We have ALL done that a few times. I dont even know if Sassafras grows up here?
pd
plenty of sassafras here in mi
just hard to find any for a decent stave
If you find some be sure to save the roots and make some root beer, had some at a rendezvous not to long ago,will make you throw rocks at store bought.
5 quarts water
1/4 ounce hops
1/2 ounce dried burdock root
1/2 ounce dried yellow dock root
1/2 ounce dried sarsaparilla root
1/2 ounce dried sassafras root
1/2 ounce dried spikenard root
1 1 /2 cups sugar
1/8 tsp granulated yeast
Simmer herbs for 30 minutes. Add sugar, stir to dissolve. Cool to lukewarm, add yeast and stir well. Cover and let sit for 1 hour. Bottle as above.
Sounds great Jeff but I live on the west coast I'd have to dig a ways to collect all those roots :)
Well the rest of that stave will stay in the shop just in case I start pushing to fast on another build.... got to get a grip on my impatience :(
I have made two sets of bows one hunting weight and a lighter weight from the belly split. For husbands and wives, good way to introduce the wives to trad shooting.
I have a sassafras bow setting in my unfinished pile that cracked across the back. Since then I have backed it with linen and wrapped the fracture. It cracked after I heated some reflex in the tips. You are right it was super easy to work. I think my heating had something to do with it breaking on its back.
Jeff, I'm curious how did you use the sassafras. What are the specs?
Pyramid style 2" at fades to 3/8" tips 8" non working handle 66"NTN, the fracture was not in the heavy stressed area of the limb which makes me think it was the heating to bend the tips.
What was the draw weight of that bow Jeff?