Woodworking discussion thread

[Strichev]

Post anything related.

Bowyering first!

Quite some time ago I posted about this. I've made great progress since then, and here are some nice pics of my unrelentingly stalwart struggle with the poor properties of hazel. I'm using it because of its extreme abundance. Not to mention no one is bothered when a random hazel disappears from their property. Soon™ I shall have enough skill to switch to yew! I even have a few yews scouted already.

I'm somewhat lacking in the tools department, for pretty much the only thing useful for the task is a draw knife. Sadly none of the local shops have it for sale. (WTF, right! I can count 25 different hair irons, but not a single draw knife.) Consequently I'm forced to use my great grandfather's draw knife...

Does anyone happen to know what might be the optimum humidity for drying wood? I'm concerned about string follow and set on my bow. Both might happen due to high moisture content.

[Agmen of Eladesor]

The problem you have is that you're working the wood when it's wet already, not when it's had a proper chance to dry first.

Typically what I do is take my wood, seal the end grain, and then let it dry until it reaches the level I want to work it - which can take anywhere from a few days to a few months. But I also do a lot of turning.

I did a quick check and found these two sites that may give you more information:

http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/1...nfPjXCsiSo

http://www.murraygaskins.com/moisture.html

Really the biggest thing is - once you get the moisture level in the wood to what you want it to be - seal the wood with multiple coats of poly, otherwise your bow will ALWAYS be changing.

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Oh god... The end of days... Agmen agreed with me.