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Board Bows

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pbbow:
Hello everybody! I have a question about building a board bow. I've seen many people have made bows from Red Oak boards, Hickory boards too. But, what other hardwoods can you build a bow with? I'm looking to build a simple Long Bow style for my first bow. I was just wondering if I had options. Maybe a nice piece of Maple or Ipe? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank You. ;D

NTD:
Most hardwoods can make a bow.  Maple included.  Ipe can make a selfbow but it can be tough to find one with grain well enough to do so, but it has been done, recently by Ken75. 

You might do yourself a favor and purchase the Traditional Bowyer's bibles 2 and 4.  TBB2 has an entire chapter on board bows and 4 has a pretty extensive list of woods and their properties as bow wood.  There are a bunch of build-a-longs on this site, check them over and once you dive in you'll have plenty of people here to help you along the way.  Good luck and have fun.

M-P:
Hi Folks,  Ipe can make decent selfbows.  I've made 3 or 4.  Unfortunately all of mine have started lifting splinters on the back, though one waited 10 years and thousands of shots before starting to fall apart.  I think ipe works best as a backed bow. 
Ash can make a decent longbow.  The grain is very easy to see, so sorting through the stacks is quick.  I 've forgotten the website, but one bowyer in Britain had a webpage showing how he made warbows out of ash lumber.  He chased a ring with a angle grinder and then had a regular stave.
 I'm still looking for a red cedar board with clean enough grain to make an unbacked bow.  As Nate mentioned the TBB series has some excellent info on board bows.      Ron

pbbow:
I am looking into getting those book that you've mentioned. This is all new to me. I must admit that I shoot a compound bow at the moment. But Traditional Archery has begun to take a hold of me and I'm looking for something to keep me occupied over the winter. But, thank you for the comments added so far. I've been all over the Internet trying to find out as much as I can about bow building.

Josh:
Well you've come to the right place.  I've never had the pleasure of talking to a more friendly and helpful bunch than these guys here.   :)

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