Cocobolo Wood
After weeks of moving a little stick of cocobolo wood out of my way, from one spot to another, wondering if it was of sufficient size to squeeze a thumb ring from, I conscripted it to experimentation this evening. A meager scrap it was, but the sheer excellence of this wood justifies the effort whether the ring is functional or not. It’s a beautiful wood. It’s a hard wood. It’s an aromatic wood, having an almost herbal, cinnamony aroma. It’s the first time I’ve sanded a wood and enjoyed it. And I had no idea it existed prior to acquiring a small piece recently. Update: Beware of fools and their fondness of wood dust; some woods contain significant amounts of silica (and other toxins) and can be deleterious to the lungs. Wear a sufficient mask or respirator when working with such woods.
As mentioned, the size of the piece posed a challenge to work with. I had intended a Manchu style ring, but my drilling attempt deviated enough from center, that I had to try something else. I remember after making and testing several Manchu style rings, thinking that a hybrid ring might be hiding in plain sight. There were aspects of the Manchu that both appealed to, and frustrated me — aspects that I thought might be an opportunity for a modified Manchu that rather than being omnidextrous, had a fixed orientation and a short ‘beak’ as I call it. Such a ring would, as with the Manchu, have the index finger meeting the tip of the thumb (at lesser angle) rather than the thumbnail (greater angle) when drawing. It’s still only an idea, but this cocobolo ring comes closer to it.
My test shots were accurate and comfortable, but this doesn’t always lead to the same results in the field, with a real bow. For test shots, I use a PVC bow, usually taking shots at no more than 20′ while aiming at the ground. This is a ring I won’t refine any further. If it fails to perform, it will serve as a reminder of the most interesting wood I’ve yet worked with. There’s enough of the stick remaining to make more rings, but the size is a hindrance.