Thanks for making this vid. Didn't realize I could use birch for this, didn't think there were any trees around my area to make one but I will definitely be trying this now.
Hi, you said that birch is the best bow wood in Alaska. You could also try making the bow's belly out of compression wood from pine or spruce and the back out of birch (like the Sammi) or a backing (e.g. cable, string, rawhide). Generally speaking, this is considered very heavy and it might then no longer be a selfbow, but these materials could also be used. I've heard that this compression wood has a pretty high density and can withstand a lot of compression. Perhaps you could also make a Penobscot bow, since similar bow woods to those in Alaska also grow in the area around this river, so they're rather poor bow woods. I'm currently experimenting with these things myself and will see what I find out.
Yes compression wood spruce will make a belly laminate it is much denser than birch. Like you said the finno-ugaric bows were made this way and I have done it with alaska spruce. However compression wood moves alot as it changes moisture content a bow that was tillered with heavy reflex in summer will have a deflex In winter after it sits at extreme low humidity. Then the bow will reflex again as it gains humidity. Branches on spruce do the same thing as they all have compression wood. A sinew backed two wood bow is much more difficult and time consuming to make than a heat treated all birch bow. A sinew backed heat treated birch bow would be simpler and not have the huge variances in the proformance of a two wood. bow.
Hi, yes that's right. I found the passage in the Tbb 4, Chapter 2: "But the bottom, compression side of horizontal branches can be sinew-backed, yielding first-class results."and "Compression wood shrinks or expands with MC changes 10 times or more than normal wood." Otherwise he could use Larch, which has a decent density and could work as a bow wood (Tbb 4 chapter 2: some good bows) or a antler bow, which will be my next Project.
Good video. Too bad about the first bow. All that hard work gone. I make a lot of bows out of chokecherry. If I split it green, invariably it will twist. Along time ago, I learned to take my chainsaw and run it down the length of the log on both sides. To keep my chokecherry from twisting, I would peel the bark off and let it dry out that way for a while. With your birch, all you need is ensuring control of your split. With weakness on both sides of the log, the split will usually follow the saw cuts. This might work well for you. Keep making bows!👍👍🏹
@@Benjamin.stevens I usually do both sides.that leaves an inch or so width down the middle and helps control the twisting while drying. As you may know most chokecherry doesn’t get very big. It’s the larger pieces I try to save this way. The saw cut is usually too wide on the smaller staves.
3:00 I have a bad back and all I could think watching this was how bad this is long term for your back. It’s worth it to build a workable- suspend a piece of wood on 2 stumps! Anything is better than working in that crouch!
That video turned out great! It has everything a person needs to build one. Nicely done! Although I've never made a bow birch is my wood of choice for carving spoons. It has many uses.
Thats a fine bow! I have made a few out of soft wood but none lasted very long. Does walnut grow there? Thats a fine material to make a bow that should also grow up north.
If the bow was big enough you cold make it as heavy as you wanted. It is definitely not as good as Osage or hickory, but its availability is why it’s my first choice.
This one was 47 I believe. I have since given it away. If you make the limbs the same length as your draw length and 2” wide you should be able to make a 60 pound bow.
Love your videos! I live not far from you and have been considering building a birch bow myself for years. This may be the motivation I need to do it! Have you considered backing your bow with something like sinew?
I have not, the birch is much stronger in tension than compression. All of my bows that have failed, failed on the belly side. So I am not certain sinew would be beneficial. But prove me wrong! I’d love to see it.
Indeed birch self-bows should not be backed with anything, as this merely lessens the tension and increases compression on the bow. Playing right into birch's weakness making it very likely to break. Birch itself however is a great backing in a laminated bow, such as my people's traditional bows. They're most often made with a thin birch back coupled with a compression pine belly. Both lackluster bow-woods by themselves, but together make a formidable tool and weapon.
Thanks for making this vid. Didn't realize I could use birch for this, didn't think there were any trees around my area to make one but I will definitely be trying this now.
Thank you young man. I have those trees where I live, yes there is much special about them, you taught me one more thing. Bless you!
Hi, you said that birch is the best bow wood in Alaska. You could also try making the bow's belly out of compression wood from pine or spruce and the back out of birch (like the Sammi) or a backing (e.g. cable, string, rawhide). Generally speaking, this is considered very heavy and it might then no longer be a selfbow, but these materials could also be used. I've heard that this compression wood has a pretty high density and can withstand a lot of compression. Perhaps you could also make a Penobscot bow, since similar bow woods to those in Alaska also grow in the area around this river, so they're rather poor bow woods. I'm currently experimenting with these things myself and will see what I find out.
Yes compression wood spruce will make a belly laminate it is much denser than birch. Like you said the finno-ugaric bows were made this way and I have done it with alaska spruce. However compression wood moves alot as it changes moisture content a bow that was tillered with heavy reflex in summer will have a deflex In winter after it sits at extreme low humidity. Then the bow will reflex again as it gains humidity. Branches on spruce do the same thing as they all have compression wood. A sinew backed two wood bow is much more difficult and time consuming to make than a heat treated all birch bow. A sinew backed heat treated birch bow would be simpler and not have the huge variances in the proformance of a two wood. bow.
Hi, yes that's right. I found the passage in the Tbb 4, Chapter 2: "But the bottom, compression side of horizontal branches can be sinew-backed, yielding first-class results."and "Compression wood shrinks or expands with MC changes 10 times or more than normal wood."
Otherwise he could use Larch, which has a decent density and could work as a bow wood (Tbb 4 chapter 2: some good bows) or a antler bow, which will be my next Project.
Good video. Too bad about the first bow. All that hard work gone. I make a lot of bows out of chokecherry. If I split it green, invariably it will twist. Along time ago, I learned to take my chainsaw and run it down the length of the log on both sides. To keep my chokecherry from twisting, I would peel the bark off and let it dry out that way for a while. With your birch, all you need is ensuring control of your split. With weakness on both sides of the log, the split will usually follow the saw cuts. This might work well for you. Keep making bows!👍👍🏹
Interesting! Do you run a cut down both sides of the log or just one line? I’ll give that a try.
@@Benjamin.stevens I usually do both sides.that leaves an inch or so width down the middle and helps control the twisting while drying. As you may know most chokecherry doesn’t get very big. It’s the larger pieces I try to save this way. The saw cut is usually too wide on the smaller staves.
3:00 I have a bad back and all I could think watching this was how bad this is long term for your back. It’s worth it to build a workable- suspend a piece of wood on 2 stumps! Anything is better than working in that crouch!
That video turned out great! It has everything a person needs to build one. Nicely done! Although I've never made a bow birch is my wood of choice for carving spoons. It has many uses.
Birch is absolutely one of my favorite trees. I think I'll try your methods here and see if I can't build one these summer! I'd love a birch wood bow.
So cool
Thats a fine bow! I have made a few out of soft wood but none lasted very long. Does walnut grow there? Thats a fine material to make a bow that should also grow up north.
It does not but I’ve always wanted to try walnut!
You think birch will will make heavy warbows? Of course flat design. 100lb?
What u think limits are with birch?
If the bow was big enough you cold make it as heavy as you wanted. It is definitely not as good as Osage or hickory, but its availability is why it’s my first choice.
@@Benjamin.stevens What was the weight of it?
I have yellow birch.. I don't know how to make a bow according to dimensions for 60lb?
This one was 47 I believe. I have since given it away. If you make the limbs the same length as your draw length and 2” wide you should be able to make a 60 pound bow.
@@Benjamin.stevens wow! 47lb could take a deer 👍
Love your videos! I live not far from you and have been considering building a birch bow myself for years. This may be the motivation I need to do it! Have you considered backing your bow with something like sinew?
I have not, the birch is much stronger in tension than compression. All of my bows that have failed, failed on the belly side. So I am not certain sinew would be beneficial. But prove me wrong! I’d love to see it.
Indeed birch self-bows should not be backed with anything, as this merely lessens the tension and increases compression on the bow. Playing right into birch's weakness making it very likely to break. Birch itself however is a great backing in a laminated bow, such as my people's traditional bows. They're most often made with a thin birch back coupled with a compression pine belly. Both lackluster bow-woods by themselves, but together make a formidable tool and weapon.
Birch please, i have to say it. I'm going to be 35 and that let get away with saying you are being a birch tree.
Can you use paper birch to make a bow?
Yes, but there may be better options in your area.
I from Brasil 2024