Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Stickhead on August 16, 2019, 12:40:11 pm

Title: Tree ID?
Post by: Stickhead on August 16, 2019, 12:40:11 pm

This tree had to go, clearing for a driveway.  Is it a hornbeam or other good bow wood?
Thanks,
...Tom
(https://i.imgur.com/siYP7Xr.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/S9TWdaR.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/sAsW7Ug.jpg)

Title: Re: Tree ID?
Post by: dylanholderman on August 16, 2019, 12:43:43 pm

Leaves and bark make me think elm but that’s a lot of heartwood for the elm around me.

Title: Re: Tree ID?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on August 16, 2019, 12:49:56 pm

Surely an elm, has a red elm look. I don't think any of the elms make a bad bow.

Title: Re: Tree ID?
Post by: Hawkdancer on August 16, 2019, 12:52:47 pm

Looks like elm leaves, but I have been out of elm country a long time!  Maybe Gifford will chime in!
Hawkdancer

Title: Re: Tree ID?
Post by: bassman on August 16, 2019, 12:57:00 pm

Elm, that is gold mine for making bows.Good stuff

Title: Re: Tree ID?
Post by: Stickhead on August 16, 2019, 01:23:25 pm

I considered elm, but I expected lighter-colored wood.

Title: Re: Tree ID?
Post by: PatM on August 16, 2019, 02:38:56 pm

Red Elm.  A lot of people have a lower opinion of Red Elm as a selfbow wood.  Not sure how much truth there is in that.

Title: Re: Tree ID?
Post by: dylanholderman on August 16, 2019, 02:40:20 pm

have fun splitting  >:D
a chainsaw or band saw if its small enough to handle will make your life a lot easier.

Title: Re: Tree ID?
Post by: Mafort on August 16, 2019, 02:42:15 pm

Red elms split well. I’ve split numerous staves with hammer and wedges. It’s the white elm like American elm you gotta watch out for. I’ve got a couple red elm bows. I’ll try and put up some picture of them

Title: Re: Tree ID?
Post by: Pat B on August 16, 2019, 02:47:04 pm

I've made a few elm bows and was very impressed with it as a bow wood. It reacts to heat and heat treating.

Title: Re: Tree ID?
Post by: Stickhead on August 16, 2019, 02:48:36 pm

Red El it is, then.  I see sledges and wedges in my future.
Thanks, guys!

Title: Re: Tree ID?
Post by: gifford on August 16, 2019, 06:45:32 pm

Like others have said, Red Elm, Ulmus Rubra, it's interlocking grain makes it difficult to split. Bring extra wedges and a buddy.

I've made one bow with it, a much smaller diameter, actually a limb from storm cleanup. I used a flat bow design, long, wide and performance was good (to me at least), and long before I learned about heat treating.

Took a bit of set as recall, probably being impatient with drying after splitting.

Title: Re: Tree ID?
Post by: bassman on August 19, 2019, 09:11:05 am

 Chain saw.

Title: Re: Tree ID?
Post by: HH~ on August 19, 2019, 09:22:33 am

Red Elm

Kerf city right there. Chain Saw, sharp one.

HH~