what i mean is making bow perches out of wood, instead of a metal. the way they have been for years, ive been interested in making one for a while now, think i will soon
If the right kind of wood can be found. You would want a limb that would bend and fit it into sockets drilled into wooden base. I think the possibilities for creating a really beautiful perch, a work of art. Something along the lines of the old cadges shown in paintings. It would have to be protected from elements, but would be nice to pull out at a falconry meet.
You'd have to get a flexible thick branch, say like willow. soak it for a couple days in water to soften it, then gently bend it and put it into the sockets where it needs to go, gradually dry it, so it doesn't crack, then seal it from the elements. that should work.
Think as if you were making a bow
Last Edit: Apr 16, 2006 15:06:11 GMT -5 by morganf
I'll take a crack at this. I'm new to falconry, just passed the written test last week, but I've been a wood butcher for years.
Wood has some problems for application as a bow perch. It will never be as durable for one, and will require regular maintenance for another.
Ash would work well, but you would need a steam box, and a form to bend it. Ash is about as hard a native wood as you can find, and my guess is this would be beyond most folks skill. By the time you purchased the stuff to make a steam box and forms, you could have bought a pre-made stainless bow perch.
Here is an idea that might work better. It would still take some work, but the work is simpler.
Use Cedar strips.
1/8" x 1" Cedar strips, 7 foot long. You'll need 8 strips. Buy 10, as one may break. or be unusable for some other reason. 3"x3"x26" or 28" Cedar post material. Maybe a bit wider to lower the angle 4" Steel ring 36" pipe clamp 10 to 20 2" spring clamps
Take the Cedar post, and in the center of each end, cut a 1" wide, 1" deep groove. Saw to the depth, use a chisel to knock out the wood.
Take one of the Cedar strips, lay it in the slot in the post, futz to get the shape of the bow right, then with your third hand, grab a pencil and mark the cedar strip were it touches the top of the post/crossbeam.
If you have access to a pipe clamp, cut a couple 7/8 x7/8"" blocks of scrap wood. Apply glue heavily to the strip you previously marked with your third hand to 1" below the mark. Put steel ring over strip, in position, Put strip in groove, put block on strip, pipe clamp on block, tighten, then walk away for 24 hours.
If you don't have a pipe clamp, you could try using some small wood screws to hold the strip in while the glue cures. Pre-drill a small leader hole, and get some glue in the hole before you screw it in. Cedar can be a bit brittle, prone to tear out.
Now remove pipe clamp and scrap blocks. Apply glue heavily to the top of your in place strip. Lay your next strip on top, and re-apply pipe clamp. Some 2" spring clamps would work well to clamp the "legs" together, and get a tight contact around the bow. walk away for 24 hours. Repeat until you have laminated a 1" by 1" square bow perch. Scrape off the globs of glue that have oozed out all over the place. Trim your legs to points.
Another option is to make the "bow" as above, without the legs. Use a couple 2 foot lengths of 1/2" threaded rod mounted through the cross beam. Would probably be easier to insert in the ground, remove if portability is a concern.
A router with a 1/4 round bit will give you curve to the edges. I would use a low angle block plane to round the edges myself. Then sand the heck out of it. Use 100% Tung Oil for finish. It's food safe, not harmful if ingested (I should say at least to humans) should your bird decide the perch is a snack. Cover actual perching position with material of your choice. Astroturf, whatever.
Getting the Cedar strips:
If you can cut your own, go for it. Next option is finding a friendly lumber yard to cut them for you, possibly for a small fee. IMPORTANT: You want the grain of the wood running the long way. Another option is a Cedar strip Canoe or Kayak supply shop. There's a few on the internet that will ship strips. Cedar strip kayak building is actually what led me to this idea/method.
Glue:
I would use a 2 part epoxy with a slow set time, like West Systems or something comparable. Check the boat builder's, or local boat repair shops to purchase.
Second choice would be polyurethane glue. Make sure you wet the wood with water before applying.
Third choice would be outdoor grade carpenter's glue. I've never used it for constructing a laminate, but it might work.
Now that you've finished your one of a kind perch, you can carve your birds name into the cross bar!
Damn, I think I just talked myself into trying this.............
www.adviegundogs.co.uk/trolly.jpg you guys seen this, this fella makes it of of hazel i wouldnt trust ash, hurling sticks are made of it and i guess if i could break a hurl, the bird could snap it lol :S. ben do you think i could bend it without steming if freshly cut? and with a rachet strap?
www.adviegundogs.co.uk/trolly.jpg you guys seen this, this fella makes it of of hazel i wouldnt trust ash, hurling sticks are made of it and i guess if i could break a hurl, the bird could snap it lol :S. ben do you think i could bend it without steming if freshly cut? and with a rachet strap?
I'm not sure what a hurling stick is, but baseball bats and police billy clubs (batons, night sticks) are all made out of Ash. If you can break a 1" x 12" dowel of ash with your bare hands, your a better man than me.
Note that the wood perch in the picture is also 5 to 6 foot wide. That's a much gentler arc, and may be achievable with fresh cut ash. That would be easy to do if you have the space for it.
(ive made home made bows out of Ash before.) 
, you have to wrap it.