Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: medic336 on August 30, 2010, 07:13:29 pm
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Does anyone have any Experience with Mountain Laurel? I live near Little River Canyon and we have a ton of it here. Any suggestions on design?
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Most mountain laurel I've seen is quite twisted, which may pose a problem. If you can find a straight enough piece, try running some bend tests on a small piece before going for a full bow.
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medic i was gonna ask the same thing,thats all we have here,laurel thickets everywhere and a lot of fairly straight stuff.I do know that while your crawlin through a thicket i you push one back out of the way and your hand slips that sucker will smack your face harder than my granny ever did! ;D Very springy stuff.Next on my to do list!
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We have tons around here too. Locals call it "ivy" and a laurel thicket is an "ivy hell"! Mountain laurel is some pretty hard wood so it should make a bow. I've never tried it but I probably have a stave or two in my bow wood stack.
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You can take a limb and tie a knot in it without it breaking. I was going to get a stave while I was in Viginia but couldn't find a straight enough bush. i bet it will make a very sprigy bow.
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hey diesel next time i got to our cabin I'll find ya a good strait one and set it back for ya,we got alot of strait stuff here.
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That will be great maybe we'll find the next vine maple. I have never heard of anyone making a bow from it.
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no doubt I'm excited ;D
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It's pretty hard, dense wood. I think Robustus made a bow out of either mountain laurel or rhododendron once. I've always threatened to try it, just never have gotten around to it.
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Lots of straight stuff in the canyon here. usually not more than about 3.5 inch diameter,but some straight pieces 6-8 feet long. And most of these that I've seen are near public trails I'm sure there is lots more in the wild areas.....
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Diesel how long a piece you want?