Longbow in the Tropics & Asiatic Yew
Ready to take a jump into bowyering but before forking out good money for a pacific/english yew billet, I was wondering if wood from a temperate climate would warp in the humid tropical environment where I reside. Would any wood sealer or varnish alleviate wrappage? Alternatvely, would some of the Asiatic yew species like the Sumatran yew make good billet material for bow staves?
Welcome here, I would definitely prefer a "homegrown wood".
Especially yew is very sensitive to the environmental conditions.
I?ve been told by one of my bowyer- friends in the US, that hickory likes somehow wet climate. But I don?t know details about that.
Michael
Especially yew is very sensitive to the environmental conditions.
I?ve been told by one of my bowyer- friends in the US, that hickory likes somehow wet climate. But I don?t know details about that.
Michael
Traditionally yew was not successful in warm climates. Italian and Spanish grown yew was shipped north to be made into bows rather than being used at home. It also grew in the mountains where it might have made successful bows.
Saxton Pope and Art Young commented on yew bows performing badly while in Arizona.
Longbows in New Guinea are usually from bamboo or black palm. They are highly stressed and the black palm ones are rapidly drawn and shot to prevent damage to the bow stave. The climate varies with altitude, but is uniformly humid.
Saxton Pope and Art Young commented on yew bows performing badly while in Arizona.
Longbows in New Guinea are usually from bamboo or black palm. They are highly stressed and the black palm ones are rapidly drawn and shot to prevent damage to the bow stave. The climate varies with altitude, but is uniformly humid.
Gentlemen, thanks for the posts. Well, I really wanted to try my hand at being Robin Hood. That aside, wouldn't a more humid environment be good for the sapwood layer that provides the elasticity? Otherwise would a polyurethane/epoxy sealer or traditional lacquer provide the bow against the elements?
The classic solution is Shensi Lacquer or 'urushi'. But it causes sever allergic reactions in some people.
While trying to find out more about traditional Japanese armour restoration, I chanced upon this urushi substitute called cashew urushi which is as the namesake suggests, made from cashew nuts. Purportedly with none of the side effects and similar results as traditional urushi.
Mr Selby, would like to hear your comments on the use of asiatic yew as alternatives to the traditional Pacific/English/Italian yew species.
Mr Selby, would like to hear your comments on the use of asiatic yew as alternatives to the traditional Pacific/English/Italian yew species.