Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: FlaCubanRedneck on June 17, 2011, 03:14:20 pm

Title: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: FlaCubanRedneck on June 17, 2011, 03:14:20 pm

Hey yall, i just want to say hi. im looking to write a book on different types of bow woods made from trees felled personally by my primitive peeps.  I was told not all the woods in the TTBB are really great bow woods. what i want to know is, personally, what woods have YOU used that you swear by, and if you can post some pictures of your favorite w stats... no limit..!!!

if i pick your bow picture for the book, ill be sending you a form in the mail to sign stating you give rights to publish, and you will receive a free copy in the mail when its done.

thanks for your support, now lets get er done...!!!  >:D

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: sadiejane on June 17, 2011, 03:26:30 pm

have only made bows from osage so i have no experience for comparison
but i did find this list interesting so will pass along
http://forum.gon.com/showthread.php?t=481711

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: PeteC on June 17, 2011, 03:49:27 pm

I've tried a lot of bow woods,but now I pretty well stick to,Osage,EasternHophornbeam,the dense red elms,preferably Slippery elm,and the hickories. JMHO  God bless

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: FlaCubanRedneck on June 17, 2011, 03:55:29 pm

thats awesome guys..!! i appreciate the help.. keep em coming..!!

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: osage outlaw on June 17, 2011, 03:58:47 pm

Osage and Hophornbeam are my two favorites.  Osage is #1 

Here is my best osage bow.  61" long, 55#@26"  You can use any pics you want.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,26012.0.html


I have some pics of a hhb bow if you want.

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on June 17, 2011, 04:40:30 pm

Osage. It should be a short book!

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: hillbilly61 on June 17, 2011, 04:58:38 pm

 So far I've used (in order of preference)  1. Osage 2. IPE 3. Hickory 4. Red Elm Then it's what ever jumps out at me next. White Oak, Walnut, Ash...ect.
Here are some pics with braced and full draw profiles. Good luck with the book.
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh49/hillbilly061/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1908-1.jpg)

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: Lee Slikkers on June 17, 2011, 05:02:42 pm

Hillbilly61, did you back the Ipe or not?  Trying to see it clearly in the pics...I got a stick of it and trying to decide what to do with it.  Thanks.

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: hillbilly61 on June 17, 2011, 05:39:07 pm

Lee..Yes i'ts backed with Bamboo. Nice wood to work with. For the density, it scrapes very good. Try this pic I think it will show better
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh49/hillbilly061/Mobile%20Uploads/0919101121.jpg)

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: dwardo on June 17, 2011, 05:48:37 pm

Birch (ok) wych elm (umlus glabra) great bow wood, yew of cource, ash (fraxinus excelciour) great bow wood, Hazel great bow wood, even goat willow ok bow wood. If u need pics i can dog some out.

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: Josh on June 17, 2011, 06:09:58 pm

After my last bow, I am really liking walnut!!  I have cut and used osage, elm, oak, hickory, and hophornbeam with success as well.  As for buying boards, I have used purpleheart, yellowheart, hickory, oak, and ipe with pretty good success as well.  Here's my walnut bow.


(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c120/deftones3333/IMAG0384.jpg)

(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c120/deftones3333/IMAG0385.jpg)

(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c120/deftones3333/IMAG0381.jpg)

(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c120/deftones3333/IMAG0005.jpg)

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: Lee Slikkers on June 17, 2011, 06:11:37 pm

Thanks Hillbilly!

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: blackhawk on June 17, 2011, 06:33:43 pm

I think Dean Torges already wrote that book :D.  In order of preference  OSAGE...........................................................................................tied for 2nd is hickory and both hornbeam species in america.
then its all about the same or less after that to me but I have not used yew yet.

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: JackCrafty on June 17, 2011, 06:53:09 pm

Of all the wood I've harvested myself, juniper is my favorite bow wood, by far.  Of all the wood types I've used, I didn't like cedar elm, cottonwood, cumaru, birch, or ash.  My favorite overall bow wood is ipe.

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: ken75 on June 17, 2011, 07:00:57 pm

i realize im going to be the black sheep of the PA family but ... hickory #1 , crepe myrtle #2 , black walnut #3 , red elm #4,hornbeam # 5 ,oaks with white being first then red, ipe #7 ,sycamore #8. this is my list in order of favorites for Selfbows .backing combos can achive great results but our wood should be judged standing alone

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: George Tsoukalas on June 17, 2011, 07:25:18 pm

Hickory, osage, red and white oak, and black locust are my favorites in no particular order. :) Jawge

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: M-P on June 17, 2011, 11:19:46 pm

Howdy,  I'm getting to like osage, though I have no chance of harvesting it myself.   I really like junipers, especially ERC and its very close relative-Rocky Mountain Juniper.   Ipe is a very nice bow wood,  It is usually backed, but only because the grain is so difficult to see, that making sure the back is straight grained is almost impossible.  I've also trie  Ash, slippery elm, hazel, yew, black walnut and hickory can all make great bows
Here is a sinew backed Rocky Mountain Juniper(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc270/May-Pumphrey/Plainsbowstrungprofileafterraincopy.jpg)
Here is an unbacked ELB out of Rocky Mountain Juniper (http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc270/May-Pumphrey/Plainsbowstrungprofileafterraincopy.jpg)
And this one is an osage ELB(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc270/May-Pumphrey/Ronarcherycopy-1.jpg)       
Ron

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations
Post by: Catnapper on June 18, 2011, 12:19:33 am

Ron that is a sweet juniper bow! Juniper is the only bow wood that grows  where I live in Northeastern Wyoming. I have yet to try it though. And I am not quit sure how to tell what kind of juniper it is.

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: FlaCubanRedneck on June 18, 2011, 12:43:59 am

i have to say i love the support this community offers. you guys are some of the best people. im honored to know you all.. please keep it coming..!!!


thank you so much guys..!!!

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: SA on June 18, 2011, 12:51:08 am

i like osage (of course) mulberry,elm, red and white oak. hickory and ash for backing..

this one is sapwood mulberry...

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: SEMO_HUNTER on June 18, 2011, 01:05:27 am

Osage best all around bow wood in my opinion.
Bamboo #1 for backing material.
Ipe for an awesome belly wood.
And soon to find out about Hackberry so the jury is still out on this one.

I have yet to search for any Hophornbeam, but that's next on my butcher's list of trees to drop.

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: M-P on June 18, 2011, 01:47:02 am

Dang, I did it again! I just never post the pics right.
Here's the real picture of the unbacked ELB out of juniper.(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc270/May-Pumphrey/cedarELBrightsideemail.jpg)
Catnapper-  A good guidebook will help to identify your junipers.   Junipers do hybridize, so even the best guide may not tell you for sure.  To some extent it doesn't matter.   If you can find a straight grained juniper, it should make a bow.

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: jturkey on June 18, 2011, 02:08:11 am

mine is osage hickory oaks white and red then maple in that ordre trying out chinese privet and an unknown tree that was given to me after being debarked and also about to try sassafrass. and dogwood. will let you know how they work. in pics in order osage, hickory, oak

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: Gordon on June 18, 2011, 03:55:52 am

Yew, osage, vine maple, guava

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: Del the cat on June 18, 2011, 06:18:24 am

Yew, made for the English Longbow.
(http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp195/Del_the_Cat/Website%20stills/100_1003.jpg)
(http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp195/Del_the_Cat/Website%20stills/HJLlimb.jpg)
(http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp195/Del_the_Cat/Website%20stills/100_0928.jpg)
(http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp195/Del_the_Cat/Website%20stills/100_1056.jpg)
Del

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: SEMO_HUNTER on June 18, 2011, 09:04:37 am

I forgot to give you some pics, sorry about that. I thought you just wanted our favorite bow woods?
Here's a few of my favorites.

Snake skinned BBO

(http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww146/mohunter68/FinishedPicsofBBOStryker002Ed.jpg)

(http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww146/mohunter68/FinishingtheSnakeSkinnedBBO042.jpg)

My nephews with their Osage Longbows that I made them for Christmas 2010

Tucker 8yrs. old

(http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww146/mohunter68/TheBoysDayOutMarch21-2011007.jpg)

Garrett 6yrs. old

(http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww146/mohunter68/TheBoysDayOutMarch21-2011005.jpg)

(http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww146/mohunter68/TuckerandGarrettsChristmasLongbows001.jpg)

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: SEMO_HUNTER on June 18, 2011, 09:16:30 am

Here's another Osage longbow I made for a friend of mine in VA.

(http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww146/mohunter68/BillsBow5Complete001.jpg)

(http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww146/mohunter68/BillsBow5Complete005.jpg)

(http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww146/mohunter68/BillsBow5Complete009.jpg)

Here's an Osage Indian flatbow that bends in the handle that I made for myself just because I always wanted one, and it shoots awesome!
If you want a nice forgiving, fun to shoot, zero hand shock bow..........Build yourself one of these! I tillered and finished this one in an afternoon, they are simple and easy to tiller. I think even a novice bowyer could knock one out in a weekend if they wanted to.

(http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww146/mohunter68/IndianLongbow001-1.jpg)

(http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww146/mohunter68/IndianLongbow009-1.jpg)

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: druid on June 21, 2011, 10:00:12 am

Ash definitly. Here it is always above 0.7 SG and realy good wood.

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: Keenan on June 21, 2011, 05:05:51 pm

 Yew!, Yew and Yew! ;D ;D  Juniper, Cascara, Vine maple

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: Elktracker on June 21, 2011, 05:18:24 pm

My favorite as of now is Vine Maple easily available where I live and makes great bows!

Title: Re: im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?
Post by: loefflerchuck on June 21, 2011, 06:47:00 pm

Juniper and incense cedar. Always with sinew. I live in Utah and California and always cut my own wood locally. I make mostly reproductions, so I use the same wood used in the real ones.
 As far as I know I am the only one on this sight that uses Incense cedar. It is light .35 in the water test. When it dries it cant handle much tension but is the best compression wood I have ever used. So with a thick sinew back it takes a huge overdraw.
 If you look up incense cedar on this site, all the posts are mine.