Wood for a crossbow

Alcyoneus · Post by **Alcyoneus** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 6:29 pm

We had to chop down an ornamental plum? (purple leaves) tree in our front yard. It had fallen over a couple times due to heavy rains and a light root system, and finally gave it up.

I saved the trunk, as I think it will work for the body of a bow. Its useable length is 40"+ long, and between 14.5"-16" around (top to bottom). I cut it above where it branches out, and down below the ground level to the roots in hopes that it will help prevent it from splitting.

How long do I need to let it season? I'm figuring on at least one year, possibly two before I should start working on it.

What should I do to it, and what are better ways to season it?

Pretty wood color, and a tight grain, btw.

Thomas H · Post by **Thomas H** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 8:52 pm

with Yew at least it takes from 6 months to a year depending on the size of the log. you should keep the moisture content at about 9% to avoid it drying out too much. For a log that size, i'd say a couple of years in an open ended clear platic tunnel. this helps the air circulate and keeps the humidity down. Hope i helped.

DeCalmont · Post by **DeCalmont** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 9:50 pm

Well, I can't comment on the wood, but try it and see if it works. I can tell you a good way to season it;

Trim the log into the length of your possible stave plus a little for boo-boo factor. Split it length wise into at least quarters. Once you do that find some cheap latex paint and cover the ends and probably a couple of inches up the stave. Store them somewhere out of the weather for at least 6 months or so. This will allow them to dry evenly and should reduce the chance of splitting. If you want a little more specifics just PM me and I can give you a little more detailed information if you like.

Have fun, I'm going to try a piece of Mesquite that a friend and I just felled and split. Should be interesting at least.

DeCalmont · Post by **DeCalmont** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 9:52 pm

Well, I can't comment on the wood, but try it and see if it works. I can tell you a good way to season it;

Trim the log into the length of your possible stave plus a little for boo-boo factor. Split it length wise into at least quarters. Once you do that find some cheap latex paint and cover the ends and probably a couple of inches up the stave. Store them somewhere out of the weather for at least 6 months or so. This will allow them to dry evenly and should reduce the chance of splitting. If you want a little more specifics just PM me and I can give you a little more detailed information if you like.

Have fun, I'm going to try a piece of Mesquite that a friend and I just felled and split. Should be interesting at least.

Alcyoneus · Post by **Alcyoneus** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 12:09 am

I don't think I can 1/4 saw it, at the small end, it would only be about 4.5" in diameter, which would give me 4 pieces that would be too small to use. I think that eventually planing down the sides will effectively give me 1/4 sawn lumber. I might be able to carefully plan a diagonal cut down the length of the piece (with a thick end, and a narrower end, with a small wedge shape of waste at both ends), and get two xbow bodies, but that is about it. I would have to wait to see about that though.

Thomas Powers · Post by **Thomas Powers** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 12:26 pm

Folks seem to have trouble understanding that this is going to be the stock of a cross bow and not the prod---they have been giving you information on how to make it into a bow and not the stock.

First wax the ends ASAP I mean NOW. I save old candle ends, drippings, etc and have a wax pot for wood, get it nice and hot---outside burning wax is a danger! and let it soak a bit on each end at least several inches up---if the wax is just covering but not penetrating it is too cold. If it has already begun to crack see if you can trim it shorter and wax.

Secondly let it age in someplace like a basement where the humidity is fairly high right now but will drop with the use of central heating.

In general the rule of thumb is to let dry 1 year for every inch of thickness

I have a chunk that has been seasoning for over 200 years---came from a historical barn that was bulldozed, I was part of the historical society that tried to save it...It will be the stock for a Cbow someday.

Thomas

DeCalmont · Post by **DeCalmont** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 2:27 pm

My bad, I should have made myself a little clearer. The process is the same, seasoning wood is seasoning wood. If you can afford it, split the wood as small as you can. If the piece is too small to split then the best thing you can do is seal the ends and strip off the bark. You can leave the bark on but this will slow the process somewhat. Good luck with it, let us see it when you get done!