Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: phyankord on August 11, 2016, 02:41:12 pm
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so i just did some work for a nice old lady that i know, and i just noticed that at her place there are willow trees everywhere.
im not sure of the specific species of willow but thats what she said it was and there is tons of it following the creek along her property.
so i was wondering how good you guys think willow is for making bows.
im heading back to her place to help her move more boxes around (she is moving away so time is of the essence in seeing of i can snag some wood from her) wendnsday and ill bring my camera to take a few pictures, but there are at least half a dosen and they are big trees!
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Don't waste your time with it.
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is it really that bad?
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Try some.
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In one of Jim Hamm's books there are 2 of willow.
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You might try some shoots for arrows.
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You can make a bow from nearly anything. How long said bow lasts is what separates bow wood from just wood. Doc Ryan made a polar bow because we all gave him a hard time about it being junk for bow wood. Right on schedule it fretted like mad after a 100 or so shots. But, it did make a 45# bow and I did shoot it a few times.
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I think Chinese used it for light spine arrows (for light bows) from The Way of Archery ?
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I remember seeing a willow bow in one of the tbb's. If I remember correctly it was fairly normal length but 4" wide to make a 50' bow. But I have a horizontal growing limb on a tree at my house that I have been considering giving a try. Need to check if willow is more tension or compression strong to see which half of limb to use. So go for it but don't expect stellar performance. I also wouldn't cut a lifetime supply of staves.
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There are tons of better bow woods. Willow would be my last resort
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This is one of those questions that comes up every now and then. I know because I asked the same question when I got started. Willow is tempting because it is generally rather long and straight. As mentioned it has made bows of larger dimensions but there are other very good uses for it as well.
Build a coracle, build a yurt... make Willow whistles (wait till spring) and I believe the bark is good for something but I can't for the life of me remember what.
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This is one of those questions that comes up every now and then. I know because I asked the same question when I got started. Willow is tempting because it is generally rather long and straight. As mentioned it has made bows of larger dimensions but there are other very good uses for it as well.
Build a coracle, build a yurt... make Willow whistles (wait till spring) and I believe the bark is good for something but I can't for the life of me remember what.
The inner bark makes decent cordage for friction fires and such. Not sure what else...
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Build a coracle, build a yurt... make Willow whistles (wait till spring) and I believe the bark is good for something but I can't for the life of me remember what.
I believe it was used as a pain relief medicine. :laugh:
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I cut a bunch of willow shoots for arrows because they were so straight and the right size. I ended up with no arrows from about 6 dozen shoots. The wood grew straight but I could not keep it straight. It is not worth the trouble for arrows and I doubt it would make a good bow.
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A chemical in willow bark is related to aspirin.
WA
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I would probably try it, but more for fun than anything. I doubt a willow bow would last long.
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Yes, aspirin. Acetycalicylic acid. Or something close to that.
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the bark of the white willow was used by the native americans... it was boiled to make a tea... cures aches and pains... headaches... etc...
now it is chemically made and called aspirin...
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Make cricket bats with it.
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The Willow up here, sometimes called Diamond Willow, is short and stunted but it is a fairly strong wood and is stronger in tension than it is in compression. I have wanted to try it for a few years, just didn't get around to it yet. The chemical in the bark is called salicin and it breaks down into aspirin in the body
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Maybe it will make a good backing material? Throw some intop of some hickory and see?
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I've got a friend who's made willow bows up to 90lb which are still shooting. Try it. Become your own expert ;)
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This type of thread has came and went so many times over the years. I always chuckle.
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I never made a bow from willow so I hesitate to comment. The picture of the bow I saw in TBB 1 (?) seemed long and was intentionally whip tillered.
I'd rather use a more common bow wood. It takes me over 30 hours to make a bow so I like to stack the odds in my favor.
Tim Baker says it is a non bow wood but can make a bow under these conditions.
http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/47641/List-of-Potenial-Bow-Wood-Species-With-Comments#.V63XUq4hjYc
I did go through a bow making stage where I voraciously went through new to me woods and some not so new to others but those days are gone.
Jawge