birch bark
Dear all,
what is the correct way to get birch bark for covering a bow ?
simply cut & peel it ?
when ? from fresh or dried wood ?
put in water or boil before removal ?
thank you for tips !
:)
what is the correct way to get birch bark for covering a bow ?
simply cut & peel it ?
when ? from fresh or dried wood ?
put in water or boil before removal ?
thank you for tips !
:)
Most large birch trees gradually shed their bark in sheets that peel off on their own. There is no need to actually girdle a tree for bark.
Different trees have different levels of elasticity in their bark. I do a stretch test of the bark.
I actually find that a dead tree potentially produces tougher, more elastic bark.
I find no reason to soak the bark in saltwater for a year or boil it.
You can just put it in warm water to soften it and apply it like a rawhide backing.
Different trees have different levels of elasticity in their bark. I do a stretch test of the bark.
I actually find that a dead tree potentially produces tougher, more elastic bark.
I find no reason to soak the bark in saltwater for a year or boil it.
You can just put it in warm water to soften it and apply it like a rawhide backing.
Uli,
Nice links.To be honest i watched all the Nancy's videos except one that you inserted in your link.
There's one problem, birch bark probalby should be paper thin for applying onto the bow (either back or horn belly after applying sinew layer).
T'an Tan Chiung reports that birch bark comes in bundles of several or several tens of layers and that the best comes from trees 3 or 4 years old while the bark doesn't change character but color and isn't fresh. Bark is peeled using wet clot, layer by layer following the grain. The outside layer has loose particles and is not used.Top layer of the inner bark is shiny and inner bark becomes yellow etc, etc. :) :) :)
Nice links.To be honest i watched all the Nancy's videos except one that you inserted in your link.
There's one problem, birch bark probalby should be paper thin for applying onto the bow (either back or horn belly after applying sinew layer).
T'an Tan Chiung reports that birch bark comes in bundles of several or several tens of layers and that the best comes from trees 3 or 4 years old while the bark doesn't change character but color and isn't fresh. Bark is peeled using wet clot, layer by layer following the grain. The outside layer has loose particles and is not used.Top layer of the inner bark is shiny and inner bark becomes yellow etc, etc. :) :) :)
Uli wrote:
Dear all,
what is the correct way to get birch bark for covering a bow ?
simply cut & peel it ?
when ? from fresh or dried wood ?
put in water or boil before removal ?
thank you for tips !
:)
Like you guys I've planned to cover my bows with birch bark cause it's difficult to find a good thin leather (probably from young lamb). And it's much more expensive.
What I've read & heard from some russian guys who are making a russian shoes from the birch bark called - "лапти". They usually cut the bark from the tree in the end of May or in the middle of June. Maybe in Fr it can be at the beginning of May.
They also recommend to make a first vertical cut with a sharp knife(but not too deep, to avoid a damaging the tree). Of course the width depends from this vertical cut. And then make too horizontal from the sides. Then grab the edge of the bark (where you did the first vert. cut ) And pull it carefully all around a tree.
The thinness of leather is a result of processing not the original proportions of the skin. Tanned leather is put through a machine called a splitter which cuts it to the desired thickness. Sheep based leathers are too soft and weak. Commercially you should be able to purchase goatskin 1 mm thick and sand it on the flesh side until it is whatever thickness you like.
Don't confuse the obtainment of Bark for heavier duty applications with bow covering suitability.
Bow covering bark is generally obtainable from the natural shedding process.
I've managed to get it off the ground under trees or just knocked off the ribbons and sheets that the wind starts to peel off.
No need to really do any cutting or worry about the time of year.
Bow covering bark is generally obtainable from the natural shedding process.
I've managed to get it off the ground under trees or just knocked off the ribbons and sheets that the wind starts to peel off.
No need to really do any cutting or worry about the time of year.
that sounds like a good method. I remember peeling the bark off the birch trees as a kid back home :-) unfortunately birches are rare here but lets see..
If the birch don't peel, you cannot peel it no matter what you try to do. I tried all for about 4 years. If the birch bark can be skinned in thin layers at the first moment easily, is good, if not, you can use it for a quiver, but not to cover a bow.
I bought some birch bark from a guy on the internet. He said it is peeled in the spring and that it did not kill the tree.