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Unusual timber sources

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stuckinthemud:
Here 's a lateral thinking thread for a winter evening.

I have seen a bow built from a stairs hand-rail (it was ash) and others from fence posts (Osage), I was once told you could use a pick axe handle or two spliced together (hickory or ash) and I guess even an oar might do the trick (ash).  Any ideas for unorthodox timber sources - it's Trade season soon and some of us struggle with getting bow staves... :BB :) :D ;D

Pat B:
Raw and recycled flooring, both hardwood and bamboo. Some pallets are made from hickory and other usable hardwoods.

mmattockx:
I picked up a fair pile of discarded ash flooring a while ago for free. The guy was renovating and had no use for the old flooring. I expect it will mill into very usable laminations when I get around to it. I've used some of the smaller pieces for tool handles and the like and it is very dense and hard.


Mark

JW_Halverson:

--- Quote from: stuckinthemud on January 24, 2026, 05:49:48 pm ---Here 's a lateral thinking thread for a winter evening.

I have seen a bow built from a stairs hand-rail (it was ash) and others from fence posts (Osage), I was once told you could use a pick axe handle or two spliced together (hickory or ash) and I guess even an oar might do the trick (ash).  Any ideas for unorthodox timber sources - it's Trade season soon and some of us struggle with getting bow staves... :BB :) :D ;D

--- End quote ---

Several times I have spent a few minutes picking through axe handles at the local hardware store after reading in (I believe) Traditional Bowyers Bible vol 1 about making a spliced ax handle bow. I've struggled to find a single one with the right grain, much less two on the same day. It's DEFINITELY still on my to-do list! I've even got a name for the bow: "Who Could Axe For More?"

Tuomo:
I once made (in 2013) a broomstick bow. I don’t know the wood species, but it was about 1700 mm long, 28 mm diameter, with good, straight grain and dense wood, so I decided to give it a try. The end result was 41 pounds at a 27-inch draw, and it is a hunting-legal weapon here in Finland. I even left the original sticker on it.

The first image shows it in its intended use as a broomstick, and then the finished bow (the sticker and full draw).

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