Bald Cypress

[bobmack11qq]

#5422

I have a Bald Cypress tree i am going to cut down its 8″ at the base and tapers to 5″ in about 7 ft. my question is anyone ever heard of useing this wood for making a selfbow?
also how should i cure this wood before working it

[Clay Hayes]

#41870

I’ve used the heartwood for shafts. It splinters badly. Don’t bother.

Also, I think with such a small diameter, you’ll have mostly sapwood which, in my experience, has little if any spring. It’s pretty lousy bow and arrow material.

ch

[bobmack11qq]

#41875

thanks clay, looks like firewood

[Chad Sivertsen]

#42684

Ya, that is too bad but Clay likely saved you a lot of time. I try to see bows in all the trees but good bow wood can only be found in a few.

You should have some Osage or Hickory in PA. With Osage even an amatuer bowyer like me can make a bow that will make meat.

[William Warren]

#47758

Those trees are native to NC and while they are not a good bow wood you could make other things with it. You could get a couple of good boat paddles out of that log and maybe a few odd planks for odd jobs. Cypress is very rot resistant and lasts well outdoors. Grandpa made me a cypress paddle for my creek boat that lasted for years with no finish on it. The left over odd plank or two could become a weather resistant blue bird house!

Duncan

[Author]

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