Bow making woods

[scouser4life]

What is the best, common bow making wood. I know yew is proberly the best but these tree's seem to be miminal. Any suggestions?

 

[torjusg]

Elm is good. So is ash. Without having tried it, I hear oak is good.

Elm has this nasty tendency to warp, but otherwise I'd prefer it over ash.

 

[bent-stick]

If you are talking natives:

Ash
Elm
Plum, apple, pear, cherry
Holly
Hawthorn

Probably blackthorn - but I'v never seen a bow made from it

I'm experimenting with hornbeam (not the american hop hornbeam which is a completely different tree)

Hazel tends to stay bent when you bend it so although it's durable and strong it's not really springy. Might be improved with a bit of heat. I'm playing with that too.

 

[scouser4life]

ok, with that said, should i use the thick branch or the trunk?

 

[torjusg]

I don't think that matter too much. But the trunk is likely to have straighter grain and bigger growth rings, both of which are normally considered advantageous.

 

[scouser4life]

Ok thanks. Off-topic, but, is your MSN Messenger broke?

 

[torjusg]

Ok thanks. Off-topic, but, is your MSN Messenger broke?

No, I don't think so. How?

Edit: You are right. Seems to be something wrong. Can't contact anyone.

 

[stovie]

I like oak....Here's a linen backed flatbow made from oak http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/showthread.php?t=15765

 

[bent-stick]

I've not come across red oak that has not been kiln dried.

Did you harvest that bit in the wild stovie?

 

[stovie]

No. It was amongst a pile of wood from a sawmill destined to be firewood....

In the end it produced a nice tiller

 

[bent-stick]

Nice one.

 

[Snufkin]

My local FC woods has a fair bit of red oak, the fallen leaves look pretty at the moment. I'm praying for a blow down so I can do my civic duty and remove it to clear the path .

 

[longshot]

http://p081.ezboard.com/fpaleoplanet69529frm52.showMessage?topicID=1.topic

this is a list of potential bow woods with some commentry by tim baker an accomplished bowyer.

hope this helps
dean