Elm selfbow

[Balding Kansan]

Some elm I ended up with has quite a bit of sapwood and not very much heart. Will it hold up going 50/50 or probably more like 60/40 with the sapwood being the 60%?

What are some dimensions I should shoot for? I'm looking to put some slight bends in the tips and will aim for 55#@29".

Thanks!

[Pat B]

With an elm stave you want the back of your bow to be right under the bark. The bow will be all sapwood.

[PEARL DRUMS]

68" ntn, 1 11/16-1 3/4" wide at the fades. Elm loves to be tempered. The sapwood/heartwood ratio doesnt matter with elm. Like Pat said your limbs will be all sapwood and you may have a splash of dark heartwood on top of your grip.

[Balding Kansan]

Thanks much fellas.

[Flyboy718]

Keep the thread going and be sure to post pictures of your progress!  I have lot's of winged elm around my place, almost an endless supply!

[Balding Kansan]

I will but it's going to be quite a while. I just cut it last week.

[PEARL DRUMS]

I notice elm dries fast for me up here. Rough it out and wait 6-8 weeks in 50-55% humidity, maybe a breeze here and there.