Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: bushboy on April 24, 2012, 03:16:41 pm

Title: burr oak as bow wood question?
Post by: bushboy on April 24, 2012, 03:16:41 pm

Hey fella's ,wondering if anyone has used burr oak in a pyramid style. 64"ntn design?I think it's a member of the white oak family and have read that it's good. Bow wood but loves to take set! How does it take to heat treating?thx's bobbyjoe!

Title: Re: burr oak as bow wood question?
Post by: Buckeye Guy on April 24, 2012, 05:45:41 pm

Yes it will make a good bow !!
Depending on how much  of it you get to bending properly as to how long a draw it will give you !
ALL wood likes to take a set , I do to just a few wacks with a iron skillet and I like to lean the dirrection my wife is a pullin !
Have fun
Guy

Title: Re: burr oak as bow wood question?
Post by: JW_Halverson on April 25, 2012, 11:32:42 pm

I had a boatload of luck with bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa)...all of it bad.  In each case (three different trees) each stave produced a bow that was incredibly heavy, low cast, and exceedingly bad handshock. 

I was trying for what I call an American Flatbow.  Narrow nonbending handle, fadeouts about 2 inches, straight limbs for 60% of linb length and graceful curving tapers to the tips.  I started with widths at about 1 3/4" and went as narrow as 1 1/2 inches.  I was also using the "double your draw length plus 10%" for the bow lengths. 

Now  the pyramid bow has much less tip mass, maybe you will have better luck.  Also, getting your wood from a source other then mine may help too.  Not all bows are made of wood, not all wood makes a bow.

And of course....Post Pics!