Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: stuckinthemud on January 28, 2015, 04:36:23 pm

Title: Rhododendron and laurel as bow woods
Post by: stuckinthemud on January 28, 2015, 04:36:23 pm

Hi all,

Anyone know if laurel and rhododendron make decent bow woods? Anyone got any experience with these?

Title: Re: Rhododendron and laurel as bow woods
Post by: Pat B on January 28, 2015, 05:06:04 pm

There was a rhodo bow posted just a few weeks ago.

Title: Re: Rhododendron and laurel as bow woods
Post by: steve b. on January 28, 2015, 06:27:51 pm

Yea, that was mine.  I concaved the belly and sinew backed it.  Not knowing the properties of rhody, and thinking I'd probably never use/see it again, I decided to just screw around with it.  It was highly reflexed and short so I decided to see how much bend I could get out of it.  If it broke, "oh well".  It had a crown so I matched the belly to the crown, every sq. inch, and then sinewed it.  But first I tillered it to about 20 inches and at that point I was impressed with the wood. 
I ended up with 8" of reflex even after working and shooting it some.  Heat treated and flipped the tips and shot it some. 
Super smooth drawing.  At one point I drew it probably 30".  Its only about 30 lbs. or so at 28". 
I abused it and it still has a good 5" of reflex, I think.  Now I'm on the hunt for more rhody wood  so I can make a selfbow and see how it behaves.......

Title: Re: Rhododendron and laurel as bow woods
Post by: blackhawk on January 28, 2015, 07:06:40 pm

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=29143.0

Title: Re: Rhododendron and laurel as bow woods
Post by: alwayslookin on January 29, 2015, 12:21:35 pm

I have a bunch of cherry laurel in my yard that I plan on making a bow with but haven't yet.

Title: Re: Rhododendron and laurel as bow woods
Post by: stuckinthemud on January 29, 2015, 03:15:22 pm

Anyone ever tried spotted laurel? There is a badly neglected copse near me of Common Laurel, Spotted Laurel, Rhododendron and (very gnarly) Yew - doesn't seem like anyone has been managing it for a seriously long time, and I think it might benefit from a little thinning out.....