Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: banoch on September 19, 2009, 11:40:19 pm
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How does hackberry rate as a wood for selfbows? I have never really heard of it until I came to PA. thank you much
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I've never used hackberry but have read good reviews of it. If I had some, I'd try it. ;)
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I hoped no one had read this yet as I just discovered the search function and answered the question myself. I hate to ask too many questions that I could at least TRY to answer myself. Thanks though
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BANOCH ONE OF MY FAVROIT WOOD IF YA GET SOME MAKE A BOW ! BROCK
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Banoch,I have made a 64 inch,60# at 26 iches,it was very nice to work just remove bark and cadmium and have the back it has light physical weight and is very nice shooting,I didnt put any relex into the stave and it took about 11/2 inch set,I like the wood.
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What is the range of Hackberry? Would it likely be found in WV? I have never seen any but then again I've never looked. A friend of mine has told me where some hedge apple,as he calls it, is. Looks like it is time for a hike.
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Hackberry grow Natively from the Rockies easterly and from Southern Canada to Florida....so they may be some near You
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I live in Pennsylvania, this is hackberry all over and ive made multiple bows with it. Very strong wood... highly recommended
David
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Just made a hackberry bow and I love it. Too weak to hunt with, but that's my fault. I got overzealous with the rasp. The bow itself shoots straight and is holding up fine though. Enjoy it!
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Thanks fellers. I really don't want to buy a stave but I will if I have to. If I can happen onto some suitable woods here (I'm sure there are some) I will go at it that way, which would be my preference. I would at least like to try the whole process, tree to bow. I am going to look around here and see what we see.
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I've made one and it turned out nice. Be careful with the initial roughing it in, you want to leave it pretty thick to begin with as the finished bow limb thickness will be greater then say osage or hickory to make the same weight. :)
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I like Hackberry. "Sugarberry" is the primary type that grows where I live in S. Texas. Easy to work with, tough and hard to break. My smoothest shooting bows are hackberry. Kind of a non-sexy looking wood and considered a trash tree for the most part but it slings an arrow with the best.
Tom
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Google search shows that you should have Hackberry in your area. It tends to grow along fence lines & creeks.
TB
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I have loads of hackberry growing around me, here in North West Texas. Got about 4 staves to work on when I get time.
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Makes a great bow, similar to pecan or hickory with a lighter SG. I usually make wide limbs full width to last 10-12". Not real fast but a hard shooter when designed correctly. Have fun and good luck, looking forward to hearing how your bow comes out.
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I've done about a half dozen with hackberry now. I get great reviews on the aesthetics of the wood, very smooth looking stuff, light buttery yellow color. They shoot pretty good and seem to be holding up fairly well.
I like working it green when possible because it responds to the draw knife and spoke shave very well if the cutting edge is razor sharp. They peel easily and leave you with a single growth ring with no effort at all. Just remember to seal the back with a couple coats of polly-you're-insane or something watertight. Then draw it down to rough dimension and stand it in the corner for a few weeks to bring it down to 7-8 % moisture before tillering.
Would I recommend it for someone that is going to build just one bow? No. There are better woods. Would I recommend it to someone that wants to build it because they like building bows? Oh heck yeah!