Why are most compression pine bows I've seen all super long?
ie all the Saami and Siberian bows. They're all huge. As far as I know.
I've seen some shorter ones on YouTube from some random bowyer... with pretty big claims and evidence as to the properties of compression pine, from branches of pine trees. Strange that I haven't seen tons of compression pine bows if it's such a good bow wood. Especially since it's so much easier to harvest branches than trunks. I'd think native Americans would've made tons of them, rather than pacific yew and juniper.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7O4_f052syc
Thinking of making a paracord cable backed static recurve, something like 55" ntn that could be drawn to 34" with some reflex?!!! Just dreaming for now.
I wanna try but it's too hard to walk somewhere and cut the branch of a pine, and it could make people angry. Ugh, urban life without a car. Thinking of getting a machete for cutting, tillering and everything.
Don't know exactly how I'd protect the tree from getting sick or dying. Tar?
I've seen some shorter ones on YouTube from some random bowyer... with pretty big claims and evidence as to the properties of compression pine, from branches of pine trees. Strange that I haven't seen tons of compression pine bows if it's such a good bow wood. Especially since it's so much easier to harvest branches than trunks. I'd think native Americans would've made tons of them, rather than pacific yew and juniper.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7O4_f052syc
Thinking of making a paracord cable backed static recurve, something like 55" ntn that could be drawn to 34" with some reflex?!!! Just dreaming for now.
I wanna try but it's too hard to walk somewhere and cut the branch of a pine, and it could make people angry. Ugh, urban life without a car. Thinking of getting a machete for cutting, tillering and everything.
Don't know exactly how I'd protect the tree from getting sick or dying. Tar?
Afaik compression pine is no great bow wood, but the best available bellywood in far nothern Eurasia. And these bows have to be long, because it can be very cold there and every material gets brittle at low temperatures.
Typically pine is considered a poor to worthless bow wood. So it is interesting to see that a properly selected piece is a decent bow.
By the way the longer and wider limbs spread the stress out better and therefore more forgiving to wood selection and other issues.
But if you can, stop by a lumber yard, or big box hardware store (Lowes, home depot or the like) and pick up some red oak or Maple. Make sure it has the straightest grain possible. They make some nice bows for a good price. Unless you really want to make a pine bow. then go for it. the tree sap should be enough to protect it but I would recommend getting a small tree saw to cut the limbs. It will be quicker, smoother and be better for the tree.
The first bow I made was using a small plane, coping saw, a clamp and tight bond II. So they can be made using simple tools if you have the time.
By the way the longer and wider limbs spread the stress out better and therefore more forgiving to wood selection and other issues.
But if you can, stop by a lumber yard, or big box hardware store (Lowes, home depot or the like) and pick up some red oak or Maple. Make sure it has the straightest grain possible. They make some nice bows for a good price. Unless you really want to make a pine bow. then go for it. the tree sap should be enough to protect it but I would recommend getting a small tree saw to cut the limbs. It will be quicker, smoother and be better for the tree.
The first bow I made was using a small plane, coping saw, a clamp and tight bond II. So they can be made using simple tools if you have the time.
As mentioned, pine is normally a very poor bow wood; only used by the Saami and others because there was nothing else better available to them. Pacifi Yew and Juniper and other American woods are worlds better for making bows.
If you're going to try a branch-bow use a saw to cut the branches. It will leave a clean wound which will weep sap and seal itself. Cut now (winter) rather than spring/summer when the sap is running.
If you're set on making a compression pine bow, I would suggest not using modern cordage for the cable backing. Do your research and use appropriate cordage.
I think you'll be hard-pressed to make a 55" cable-backed pine bow that will draw 34" and have a reasonable draw weight (more than 30-40 lb).
If you're going to try a branch-bow use a saw to cut the branches. It will leave a clean wound which will weep sap and seal itself. Cut now (winter) rather than spring/summer when the sap is running.
If you're set on making a compression pine bow, I would suggest not using modern cordage for the cable backing. Do your research and use appropriate cordage.
I think you'll be hard-pressed to make a 55" cable-backed pine bow that will draw 34" and have a reasonable draw weight (more than 30-40 lb).
Wonder how compression juniper would do. Don't know where to find any. Guess I'd have to ask around.
Nylon appears to have properties similar to sinew, and it is much cheaper and easier to find than sinew cable. It seems like it can stretch even more? It makes more sense to use nylon than something like hemp or linen to me because it's stretchy.
Yeah I dunno.
I think I'd rather do a normal sinew back than a sinew cable back.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7O4_f052syc
- guess this is pinus sylvestris, which may be a better bow wood than most pines?
Thanks for the responses
Nylon appears to have properties similar to sinew, and it is much cheaper and easier to find than sinew cable. It seems like it can stretch even more? It makes more sense to use nylon than something like hemp or linen to me because it's stretchy.
Yeah I dunno.
I think I'd rather do a normal sinew back than a sinew cable back.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7O4_f052syc
- guess this is pinus sylvestris, which may be a better bow wood than most pines?
Thanks for the responses
I know of no bows made from only "compression pine"
What is known as "Saami bows" is also known by the name "two wood bows."
They was made with Birch in the back, and a laminate of "compression pine" in the belly.
Compression Pine is not a species, but comes from a Pine tree that has grown oblique. The wood on the underside grows in compression from the weight of the tree, and gets some special properties. I don't think compression Pine would be suitable for a self bow.
I do not know if other species that grows obliquely will get the same properties as Pine.
You can see some replicas here:
http://northernwildernesskills.blogspot ... c-bow.html
And here:
https://nb-no.facebook.com/permalink.ph ... 2172403666
What is known as "Saami bows" is also known by the name "two wood bows."
They was made with Birch in the back, and a laminate of "compression pine" in the belly.
Compression Pine is not a species, but comes from a Pine tree that has grown oblique. The wood on the underside grows in compression from the weight of the tree, and gets some special properties. I don't think compression Pine would be suitable for a self bow.
I do not know if other species that grows obliquely will get the same properties as Pine.
You can see some replicas here:
http://northernwildernesskills.blogspot ... c-bow.html
And here:
https://nb-no.facebook.com/permalink.ph ... 2172403666
Any bowwood is better than most pines.pcoutin wrote:
which may be a better bow wood than most pines?
pinus sylvestris is a species of pine that seems stronger/less brittle than other pines. I am willing to bet that compression pine (the reaction wood that occurs in pine that grows diagonally or in branches) is a way way better bow belly wood than normal pine. yet people have made long, wide bows out of "normal" pine...Amarutu wrote:
Any bowwood is better than most pines.pcoutin wrote:
which may be a better bow wood than most pines?
I read somewhere that compression softwood is difficult to work and if precautions aren't taken it can break logging equipment.
Perhaps the compression pine of pinus sylvestris is better than the compression pine of other species of pine. Just a guess. That sinew gull wing bow of compression pine from that video seems pretty good, seems to bend a fair bit. His spruce reaction wood reflex bow was interesting too. It was interesting how he didn't tiller his bows very well but they still didn't blow up. But I think the species of pine he uses is pinus sylvestris.
Some more description here - https://lintukoto.wordpress.com/2010/04 ... sion-wood/
Very cold climate seems like a good explanation for the long length of those two wood bows.
It appears that compression pine is up to 24% denser than the rest.
http://www.scielo.cl/pdf/maderas/v11n2/art05.pdf
Compression pine might make a decent, easy to make cable backed bow and it's probably much easier to get than good bow woods. It might even be better than red oak...
I should try it to confirm :p I had a chance to harvest branches some days ago when workers were pruning pine trees in a neighborhood but blew it... they were rather thin, though. All I have is a hacksaw and a decent fixed blade knife.
Might also try a western scythian wood bow style with acacia shoots. Dunno. Also wanna make arrows out of acacia shoots. can always try to see if it'll work. Yeah yeah I should shut up and deliver :p