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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: briarjumper12 on December 02, 2011, 04:06:00 PM

Title: Will KY hickory bow survive in Arizona low RH?
Post by: briarjumper12 on December 02, 2011, 04:06:00 PM
If I build a flatbow for a gentleman in Arizona will it survive?  I live in SE KY and harvested this wood here.  It's seasoned two years already and I always keep in the hotbox as I am working on it.  My friend said the RH down there is sometimes as low as 8 or 9% so do I need to take the MC down lower than I normally would with the hotbox to get it accustomed to the low RH in its new home?  
If so what would be the target MC?  I usually shoot 8% on hickory.
Title: Re: Will KY hickory bow survive in Arizona low RH?
Post by: Sal on December 02, 2011, 04:20:00 PM
That bow will pick up speed and be happy as a hog in AZ.  Hickory does best in the desert.
Title: Re: Will KY hickory bow survive in Arizona low RH?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on December 02, 2011, 04:21:00 PM
Agreed. Drier the better for hickory.
Title: Re: Will KY hickory bow survive in Arizona low RH?
Post by: briarjumper12 on December 05, 2011, 06:31:00 PM
Great!  Thanks gentlemen.  I have a swordsmith in AZ who is going trade me a medieval hand a half for a bow and a set of arrows.  He's even going to forge some broadheads for the arrows.
Title: Re: Will KY hickory bow survive in Arizona low RH?
Post by: Bert Frelink on December 05, 2011, 06:56:00 PM
It will also pick up 4 to 5 #'s in draw weight, might want to take that into consideration.
Bert.
Title: Re: Will KY hickory bow survive in Arizona low RH?
Post by: dmikeyj on December 05, 2011, 06:57:00 PM
John, that sounds like a hell of a deal.  I would be interested in seeing the sword once you get it.

Mike
Title: Re: Will KY hickory bow survive in Arizona low RH?
Post by: briarjumper12 on December 06, 2011, 09:31:00 AM
Thanks Bert, I will keep that in mind.
Mikey, I will get some pics when I get it.  It will be a while.  It usually takes me 2 or 3 months to get one done.
Title: Re: Will KY hickory bow survive in Arizona low RH?
Post by: b.glass on December 06, 2011, 01:06:00 PM
I was thinking the same thing that Sal said! Happy bow!