Vine Maple Bows

Let’s Talk About Vine Maple

***Please read all of this before making a purchase***

 

 

Years ago a very talented bowyer by the name of John Strunk made a claim about vine maple that is true in every way……..except one.  John claimed the best vine maple comes from vines that are bent over, or creating a hoop of sorts. Starting at the trunk, and growing upward, then bending back toward the ground. For a person looking for a high reflex stave…. splitting the log/vine and keeping the skyward facing piece would result in a nice reflex stave, and for the most part he is without a doubt correct.

So what is the one thing I disagree with?? Well, as you can see in my pictures of vine maple, not all vine maple grows with a hoop looking growth, in fact where I cut my maple it can grows straight up, there is no tension side, and no compression side. So, what do we call this wood??? I call it good useable, and a lot of times exceptional wood that will throw an arrow just as fast and accurate as any other wood…

….given correct design, and a good tillering job. Now what John didn’t tell you is how hard it is to find the stave he speaks of, and how many vines you would have to split to come up with this golden goose.

Vine maple is one of the most twisted woods you can use, and is tough as nails. “D” BOWS SHOULD BE MARKED on the stave BACK and BELLY. There could be some movement while tillering, but not much from my experience, easily steamed, or my choice of bending by “MICROWAVED” (I will do a video showing how I use the microwave, and link it to my website)

Now the flat bows I sell move little if at all, and seem to be very stable. Most of my flat bows are spliced at the handle, and sometimes I add figured woods to the handle area.

I do NOT do custom orders on vine maple, you will just have to wait for a piece that suites you….I have done custom orders in the past, and I plain hate it…..what you request  is not always possible to find.

Any other questions please email…..remember this is a side hobby for me….I do run a full time pest control company, and time is not my best friend especially during the summer. Please keep this in mind, thank you!