Main Discussion Area > Bows
AZ Ironwood Bow
bassman211:
Use a sharp ax, and rough rasps to get it to floor tiller, and a sharp knife, and sand paper. That works best for me with the blue beech of the east. Make a bow from it . You may end up liking the wood. I wonder how many other woods are going to be called iron wood before to long? Good luck.
Marc St Louis:
A guy on here made a bow out of some maybe 20 years ago but that's all I remember of that plus it was on another server so you won't find any info on it...I know not much help
P.S. I believe his username was Arquerero
Hamish:
Amazing that you have found a piece long enough and straight enough for a billet, let alone a full length stave. I've only ever seen photos of AZ ironwood, timber in small craft sections. Most of it is twisty/gnarley, with some clear sections in between, useful for knife handles.
Absolutely beautiful wood, really dense and heavy, looks a lot like cocobolo.
I would second the use of a hickory or boo backing when using wood that is a bit of an unknown quantity. Not all dense woods have the same physical properties in reality, when it comes to bows. Some that look really good on paper can be weak in tension or compression. A backing will stack the odds in your favour
richgibula:
Thank you everyone for your comments. I found this piece, about 4" X 6" X 5 ft, at a lumberyard that specializes in mesquite. That's where I got my mesquite for a bow I made. They inherited the ironwood when they purchased the lumberyard almost 20 years ago. Since then, there has been a ban on new harvesting, according to them. That has something to do with the fact that ironwood here is a nurse plant for a lot of local plant germination, including saguaro cactuses
There were only a few large pieces and mine has large cracks where I will have to work out where and how to cut ut. I expect to lose 1 or 2 bandsaw blades in the process. I will likely have to splice two pieces together given the shape and cracks. I am also hoping to do something with the pieces that will remain. If I pair side-by-side pieces, it will probably tiller easier.
richgibula:
My Ironwood pic.
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