The Catskill Mountain Woodsman and JWB Bows split logs to make bow staves and talk about black locust, mulberry, hickory, and general information about trees and wood.
Filed under "learning something new every day". A new use for locus. I have always found locus to be a poor building wood because of its tendency to split easily. Outside of pegs, fence posts and fire wood I never thought very highly of this timber.
I love how people who work with wood talk about wood in a way that people who work with wood understand. That cracking noise, "beautiful". Nice vid my man!
2:30 Hell yes! Mulberry was in fact the favored bow wood of the Apache who would gather it wild in the winter along the Gila and Pecos rivers. It makes a beautiful bow and in fact, one of Geronimo's bows from when he was imprisoned is on display along with the "Quigley Down Under" rifle at Bass Pro Shop's headquarters in Springfield, Missouri near where I live. :)
I realize this is an old post but I had to thank you for this information. I have huge mulberry trees at my place. I like black locust wood (which I've also got a lot of) But never even knew that fact about mulberry. I think I'll try a build one
@@patrickbass3118 You're more than welcome. Is it Asian yellow, similar to Osage Orange? Or is it American red, like the Apache used? Either works extremely well. I have seasoning staves almost eight or nine years old taken from some old Asian mulberry trees a neighbor cut down. Great wood, but do have a good axe and decent drawknife for the older samples.
@@robertcorbell1006 american red - I have used some of the large gnarly limbs and trunks for firewood... Definitely saving some bow wood when I can find a good piece. also the berries are quite tasty
@@patrickbass3118 The Asian ones have tart and dry raspberry-flavored ones while the red American mulberries are sweet. The Asian is better for Mongolian bows while the American is better for an Apache bow. Either way, the gull-wing design is best, particularly on a softly bent log.
cutting a BUNCH of pecans out of my yard (sadly,but they're too close to the barn.) Seeing as pecan is sold as hickory,I'm gonna try to make a few longbows outta it. Can't hurt to try,test new skills and learn as I go.
Son.. I've been working with wood for over 20 years.. I LOVE your work.. I just can't understand why you're working like such a rookie in this particular video.. This is hack work and about as unsafe as it gets.. What are you doing? Dont' get me wrong.. this is how people do it.. but if you're giving any kind of safe youtbe tutorial... so much education, but so little technique. People will only get hurt if they follow these instructions. Other that that... Outstanding.
STOP abusing the Hewing axe. Good old axes like that are near impossible to find in good shape. They are not designed to be pounded on. buy a few wedges.
+Chris Bruinsma SHUT UP!!!! I have Dozens of them! Old axes are abundant! They can be cleaned up and reshaped anyway! And Its a Bow making Vid! Go watch Logging vids. Or Axe restoring!
No craftsman should destroy his tools on purpose , he could have taken a wooden maul or just any piece of wood for that matter and beaten the axe , hitting metal on metal is asking for tool breaking.
Now I know why I find axe heads with poles all bashed and mushroomed. Just use a wooden mallet or beetle! Not powerful enough for you? You can make a large one (10-20lb) very easily from a piece of cord wood and a sapling; just use an auger to make a hole large enough to haft the cord wood head on the sapling handle. Save yourself from flying metal pieces, and save your axes from deformation.
Locust tree's can take over your property in just a few years they grow tall,With that type of wood you have to make the bow at least 1 1/2 inches wide. Any wood can equal osage orange if you make wider limbs. But you can use green wood to make the stave into the shape of a bow close to the spec's if you want an effective bow you must clamp it to hold the bow straight. Or you can clamp recurve in the limbs while its green or you can add reflex while its green, but it must be clamped till its seasoned, If you string it or bend it in the direction its supposed to be drawn while its green you just ruined it. wood takes a set then it becomes compression wood and its only good for knife handles after that. Every state has a tree description site of local trees, If its a invasive specie's that means the govt fears it, because you could potentially make a bow or arrow out of it. EXAMPLE: Honeysuckle,.... they say its a invasive species, cave men made prehistoric arrows out of it and hazel, pine, birch, ash, dogwood, viburnum, alder, larch, willow, and burning bush. Honeysuckle was used in the Neolithic era, I made a quiver out of honeysuckle. Even though honey suckle has 20 limbs per branch you simply cut them off they do not affect the integrity of the shaft, you want a little more diameter and length because they are light and a little more diameter and length in the Neolithic era I believe they were 36-39 inches perhaps because the material was light or perhaps people were 7-12 feet tall then?
you guys have any mulberry or locust staves or logs left ? I've made bows with hudson valley native trees, hickory, maple, ash, beech etc. and I own a mulberry longbow i didn't make and i love it I'd love to get my hands on some mulberry or locust
Hey man appreciate this video I’m in the eastern Catskills looking for someone with logs for staves rn very tough to find … very much hoping you could provide contact info IF ☝🏻 you think he’d appreciate the business. In any case thanks again for the vid I’ve got one mulberry stave cut from my land and I’m looking for a few more things that aren’t hickory oak and elm
Different wood fibers behave differently regardless of density. Different resins different lignin etc... The subjective feel of the wood is a product of many things only one of which is hardness/density.
How do you tell the difference between black locust and honey locust I have several I have been letting grow in my yard my father is a Cherokee indian but refused to teach use the old ways because his father was abusive to him,he didn't like to talk about that ,about the racial biest he was put threw ,along with Vietnam ,so I have been starting to research this myself.Interesting video thanks for posting.
+MrDeathd There is a very good and easy to understand book called "Cherokee Bows and Arrows" by Al Herrin. You may already know this, but I thought you might be interested. You can usually find it online for around $30.
Black locust has small thorns along the limbs, honey locust has very long thorns in clusters all over it, and looks like it came from hell. Black locust is commonly used for fence posts, due to resistance to rot.
his axe bro i wouldnt doit personally but at least he aint doing it edge wise lol. not trying to teach meemaw to suck eggs but wood wedges are simple to make and effective it does take extra time tho although locust is stupid hard and wedges need to be as hard or harder than wood being split east texas has alot of osage and hickory ceder makes a decent bow if light draw srry started rambling...alsoi apologize for my horrific grammar lol
1st 30 seconds of conversation confused the fuck out of me... 🔥 Is bigger better 🔥Smaller is better 🔥How Many inches is it 🔥7 inches i think WTF.....we are talking about splitting wood right????
OK one more comment to those worried about the tools. get over you self or what you think you know. I'll bet those tools built the house in the background with that same "abuse".
scratchman1000 I bet if you have any nice old tools like that, then they are smashed to h*ll. The poll of an axe isn't meant to be hit with any other stricking tool. Unless the poll has been properly hardened. Therefore not only is he ruining his 100+ year old broad axe, he is also risking his eyes and those around him by the potential of shrapnel flying off the poll of that axe. If you want to pound some axes with a hammer, buy a cheapo, and put on some safety glasses!
@@nathanjohnston7187 property hardened? You would not want to hit a hardened steel axe with a hardened steel hammer. Hardening makes the steel brittle and more likely to chip. This is why you aren't supposed to put regular sockets on an impact wrench but people don't all the time and I've never seen hardened steel chip when struck by hardened steel. I've seen it break, but that was right after hardening and hadnt been tempered yet.
And Most Ignorant and Unsafe UA-cam Comment of the Week goes to Scratchman1000. He will automatically be entered for the Darwin Awards for Keyboard Justice Warrior Featherweight Class.
I can't stand to see you beat on those broad axes with a steel hammer. Get some cheap splitting mauls or make some wooden ones. They aren't making 100 to 150 year old broad axes any more. Ouch.
Hats off to the woman asking questions. She's bringing up really great questions.
Filed under "learning something new every day". A new use for locus. I have always found locus to be a poor building wood because of its tendency to split easily. Outside of pegs, fence posts and fire wood I never thought very highly of this timber.
It is very rot resistant and makes beautiful outdoor furniture that will last a long time.
Great firewood in my opinion
I love how people who work with wood talk about wood in a way that people who work with wood understand. That cracking noise, "beautiful". Nice vid my man!
I don't think you need to work with wood to love the sounds it makes.
This is a very good video on procuring wood for bows as checking is a very real reality. Those little things can make or break a good build.
mulberry and black locust are wild growers. Very true! Osage is native to the central US, but replants every where make it a very accessible wood.
Thanks guys, found this clip very informative. I'm planning on making some bows and appreciate the advice.
Very informative video!! 10:32 of pure gold.....Thanks dudes!
2:30 Hell yes! Mulberry was in fact the favored bow wood of the Apache who would gather it wild in the winter along the Gila and Pecos rivers. It makes a beautiful bow and in fact, one of Geronimo's bows from when he was imprisoned is on display along with the "Quigley Down Under" rifle at Bass Pro Shop's headquarters in Springfield, Missouri near where I live. :)
I realize this is an old post but I had to thank you for this information. I have huge mulberry trees at my place. I like black locust wood (which I've also got a lot of)
But never even knew that fact about mulberry. I think I'll try a build one
@@patrickbass3118 You're more than welcome. Is it Asian yellow, similar to Osage Orange? Or is it American red, like the Apache used? Either works extremely well. I have seasoning staves almost eight or nine years old taken from some old Asian mulberry trees a neighbor cut down. Great wood, but do have a good axe and decent drawknife for the older samples.
@@robertcorbell1006 american red - I have used some of the large gnarly limbs and trunks for firewood... Definitely saving some bow wood when I can find a good piece. also the berries are quite tasty
@@patrickbass3118 The Asian ones have tart and dry raspberry-flavored ones while the red American mulberries are sweet. The Asian is better for Mongolian bows while the American is better for an Apache bow. Either way, the gull-wing design is best, particularly on a softly bent log.
Make some wedges from that firewood in the background!
I particularly like the protective work boots, and the camera woman’s questions he can’t answer. Very educational.
cutting a BUNCH of pecans out of my yard (sadly,but they're too close to the barn.) Seeing as pecan is sold as hickory,I'm gonna try to make a few longbows outta it. Can't hurt to try,test new skills and learn as I go.
Argh stop bashing that poor axe!!!! Get a damn maul!!
Sometimes you gotta use what you have on hand. I cringe when someone calls a shop hammer a sledge.
Right!!! Glad to see I was not the only one cringing about the broad axe getting the poll beat.
Son.. I've been working with wood for over 20 years.. I LOVE your work.. I just can't understand why you're working like such a rookie in this particular video.. This is hack work and about as unsafe as it gets.. What are you doing? Dont' get me wrong.. this is how people do it.. but if you're giving any kind of safe youtbe tutorial... so much education, but so little technique. People will only get hurt if they follow these instructions. Other that that... Outstanding.
Why are you bashing the shit out of that beautiful old broad axe? For Christ's sake use a splitting maul!
Thanks Brother, very well done, knowledgeable video, blessings, and respect.......Joshua Seven Thunders///////
STOP abusing the Hewing axe. Good old axes like that are near impossible to find in good shape. They are not designed to be pounded on. buy a few wedges.
+Chris Bruinsma SHUT UP!!!! I have Dozens of them! Old axes are abundant! They can be cleaned up and reshaped anyway! And Its a Bow making Vid! Go watch Logging vids. Or Axe restoring!
5tonyvvvv you sir are a moron.
Oh for Christ sake it his his tolls I use my craftsman wrenches as Hammers. Everything has a hammer side.
@@5tonyvvvv You're about a DMF, the poster is even agreeing with Chris Bruinsma.
No craftsman should destroy his tools on purpose , he could have taken a wooden maul or just any piece of wood for that matter and beaten the axe , hitting metal on metal is asking for tool breaking.
Osage Orange....You Can Bury It For 5 Years....Dig It Up...Still Rock Hard....!!! Mulberry
Is It's First Cousin....!!!!
got the same thin wood was twisted and it made more work
Splitting wood is one of the most satisfying things I have ever done. Watching you abuse those tools was very painful.
It is his tolls get off his nuts.
Now I know why I find axe heads with poles all bashed and mushroomed. Just use a wooden mallet or beetle! Not powerful enough for you? You can make a large one (10-20lb) very easily from a piece of cord wood and a sapling; just use an auger to make a hole large enough to haft the cord wood head on the sapling handle. Save yourself from flying metal pieces, and save your axes from deformation.
A J I have a broad hewing axe with the poll just like that from some other moron with a "good idea"
best wood for bows is the yew. The fact that its a sacred tree from morocco to russia and from england to turkia has something to say
Osage orange doesn't rot very easy it seems to get harder as it gets older outdoors
I woud like to see rest of the bowmaking prosess, if you made it?
how old the wood must be so that it is use able to make a bow
Next time use hickery. loose the plastic wedge, and get another hatchett. Yankee Bows
Locust tree's can take over your property in just a few years they grow tall,With that type of wood you have to make the bow at least 1 1/2 inches wide.
Any wood can equal osage orange if you make wider limbs. But you can use green wood to make the stave into the shape of a bow close to the spec's if you want an effective bow you must clamp it to hold the bow straight.
Or you can clamp recurve in the limbs while its green or you can add reflex while its green, but it must be clamped till its seasoned, If you string it or bend it in the direction its supposed to be drawn while its green you just ruined it. wood takes a set then it becomes compression wood and its only good for knife handles after that.
Every state has a tree description site of local trees, If its a invasive specie's that means the govt fears it, because you could potentially make a bow or arrow out of it. EXAMPLE: Honeysuckle,.... they say its a invasive species, cave men made prehistoric arrows out of it and hazel, pine, birch, ash, dogwood, viburnum, alder, larch, willow, and burning bush.
Honeysuckle was used in the Neolithic era, I made a quiver out of honeysuckle. Even though honey suckle has 20 limbs per branch you simply cut them off they do not affect the integrity of the shaft, you want a little more diameter and length because they are light and a little more diameter and length in the Neolithic era I believe they were 36-39 inches perhaps because the material was light or perhaps people were 7-12 feet tall then?
you guys have any mulberry or locust staves or logs left ? I've made bows with hudson valley native trees, hickory, maple, ash, beech etc. and I own a mulberry longbow i didn't make and i love it
I'd love to get my hands on some mulberry or locust
I don't often bitch about videos, but pounding an ax and working in flip-flops? Seriously?
Did they have safety shoes back in the day ,no so stop bitching
I dont often bitch about videos, but when i do i bitch about the most trivial shit....
Flip-flops are the sign of a true craftsman
Hey man appreciate this video I’m in the eastern Catskills looking for someone with logs for staves rn very tough to find … very much hoping you could provide contact info IF ☝🏻 you think he’d appreciate the business. In any case thanks again for the vid I’ve got one mulberry stave cut from my land and I’m looking for a few more things that aren’t hickory oak and elm
Weird how Osage and Locust are “soft” in feeling while being some of the hardest woods north of the tropics.
I think he was describing the way it feels when shooting.
Different wood fibers behave differently regardless of density. Different resins different lignin etc... The subjective feel of the wood is a product of many things only one of which is hardness/density.
Way to ruin a nice broad axe!
al millitor indigenous people's have been using edged tools barefoot for thousands of years. I get the allure. I also wear steel toes.
Can twisted wood be dealt with?
Nice video, but i was worried for your feet all the time. Safety first, bro! ;) Wear a pair of heavy duty shoes next time!
It is his life let him live it the way he sees fit.
this is how we do it Indian did not have shoes we work barefoot hell yeah just need a beer to
Can you guys remolded and fix those houses, that would be a really nice video.
How do you tell the difference between black locust and honey locust I have several I have been letting grow in my yard my father is a Cherokee indian but refused to teach use the old ways because his father was abusive to him,he didn't like to talk about that ,about the racial biest he was put threw ,along with Vietnam ,so I have been starting to research this myself.Interesting video thanks for posting.
Honey locust has very sharp thorns on it. They cluster up and they can get up to 4" long. They were used for stitching leather by Native Americans.
that's kind of cool !
+MrDeathd There is a very good and easy to understand book called "Cherokee Bows and Arrows" by Al Herrin. You may already know this, but I thought you might be interested. You can usually find it online for around $30.
+Troy T Thank you , I didn't know that there was such a book so thank you again I will be locating it and purchase it.
Black locust has small thorns along the limbs, honey locust has very long thorns in clusters all over it, and looks like it came from hell.
Black locust is commonly used for fence posts, due to resistance to rot.
what is this tree
his axe bro i wouldnt doit personally but at least he aint doing it edge wise lol. not trying to teach meemaw to suck eggs but wood wedges are simple to make and effective it does take extra time tho although locust is stupid hard and wedges need to be as hard or harder than wood being split east texas has alot of osage and hickory ceder makes a decent bow if light draw srry started rambling...alsoi apologize for my horrific grammar lol
This acacia or robinia?
Blood & Toes are on the menu ! Who wears sandals to do this ? DUH !
sorry, not quite good english speaker...they say the log is already dry? or it is fresh? thanks
Esteban man it wasn't dried out yet
+Kurt Wolford does anybody know if they do something special to avoid roting the wood?
Esteban man I think they just keep it off the ground and out of the rain, I think they paint the ends too but I'm not sure why
Kurt Wolford- some woods will split if the ends aren't sealed with paint or glue.
Painting the ends is to stop the evaporation of water there, if not done the wood will split a lot. You want it to dry out through the sides.
1st 30 seconds of conversation confused the fuck out of me...
🔥 Is bigger better
🔥Smaller is better
🔥How Many inches is it
🔥7 inches i think
WTF.....we are talking about splitting wood right????
please don't ruin that beautiful hewing axe.! The eye will open and the handle will be loose!
OK one more comment to those worried about the tools. get over you self or what you think you know. I'll bet those tools built the house in the background with that same "abuse".
scratchman1000 I bet if you have any nice old tools like that, then they are smashed to h*ll. The poll of an axe isn't meant to be hit with any other stricking tool. Unless the poll has been properly hardened. Therefore not only is he ruining his 100+ year old broad axe, he is also risking his eyes and those around him by the potential of shrapnel flying off the poll of that axe. If you want to pound some axes with a hammer, buy a cheapo, and put on some safety glasses!
scratchman1000 and no matter how that house was built, it doesn't make it the right way.
@@nathanjohnston7187 property hardened? You would not want to hit a hardened steel axe with a hardened steel hammer. Hardening makes the steel brittle and more likely to chip. This is why you aren't supposed to put regular sockets on an impact wrench but people don't all the time and I've never seen hardened steel chip when struck by hardened steel. I've seen it break, but that was right after hardening and hadnt been tempered yet.
And Most Ignorant and Unsafe UA-cam Comment of the Week goes to Scratchman1000. He will automatically be entered for the Darwin Awards for Keyboard Justice Warrior Featherweight Class.
I can't stand to see you beat on those broad axes with a steel hammer. Get some cheap splitting mauls or make some wooden ones. They aren't making 100 to 150 year old broad axes any more. Ouch.
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