Ash for bowmaking

[Shing]

I would like to know where to buy some ash suitable for bowmaking. I understand air dried is better than kiln dried. I expect having to do quite a few before getting it right so don't want to spend a lot on a proper bow stave just yet.

 

[Bardster]

I would like to know where to buy some ash suitable for bowmaking. I understand air dried is better than kiln dried. I expect having to do quite a few before getting it right so don't want to spend a lot on a proper bow stave just yet.

In which case you are better off going to your local woodyard - i use travis perkins - and bying ash planks - look for reasonable grain. There is nothing wrong with bows made from this kind of timber. Both myself and the pro bowyer teaching me use kiln dried boards from tiber merchants. You can produce a satisfactory bow anywhere in the range from 20lbs upto 60lbs.
A six foot length 1 1/2" Thick and wide enough for maybe 6 or 8 staves will cost around about £10, and my local TP even cuts it into staves for me.

 

[Spacemonkey]

I made one out of walnut backed with ash from a plank this summer. It turned out fine, and hopefully I'll get around to fitting the handgrip soon...!

 

[stovie]

I would like to know where to buy some ash suitable for bowmaking. I understand air dried is better than kiln dried. I expect having to do quite a few before getting it right so don't want to spend a lot on a proper bow stave just yet.

I got my stave from an Ash tree...

...It's a posh place for stubbing your cigar out :twak: