Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: stuckinthemud on January 24, 2026, 05:49:48 pm
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Here 's a lateral thinking thread for a winter evening.
I have seen a bow built from a stairs hand-rail (it was ash) and others from fence posts (Osage), I was once told you could use a pick axe handle or two spliced together (hickory or ash) and I guess even an oar might do the trick (ash). Any ideas for unorthodox timber sources - it's Trade season soon and some of us struggle with getting bow staves... :BB :) :D ;D
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Raw and recycled flooring, both hardwood and bamboo. Some pallets are made from hickory and other usable hardwoods.
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I picked up a fair pile of discarded ash flooring a while ago for free. The guy was renovating and had no use for the old flooring. I expect it will mill into very usable laminations when I get around to it. I've used some of the smaller pieces for tool handles and the like and it is very dense and hard.
Mark
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Here 's a lateral thinking thread for a winter evening.
I have seen a bow built from a stairs hand-rail (it was ash) and others from fence posts (Osage), I was once told you could use a pick axe handle or two spliced together (hickory or ash) and I guess even an oar might do the trick (ash). Any ideas for unorthodox timber sources - it's Trade season soon and some of us struggle with getting bow staves... :BB :) :D ;D
Several times I have spent a few minutes picking through axe handles at the local hardware store after reading in (I believe) Traditional Bowyers Bible vol 1 about making a spliced ax handle bow. I've struggled to find a single one with the right grain, much less two on the same day. It's DEFINITELY still on my to-do list! I've even got a name for the bow: "Who Could Axe For More?"
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I once made (in 2013) a broomstick bow. I don’t know the wood species, but it was about 1700 mm long, 28 mm diameter, with good, straight grain and dense wood, so I decided to give it a try. The end result was 41 pounds at a 27-inch draw, and it is a hunting-legal weapon here in Finland. I even left the original sticker on it.
The first image shows it in its intended use as a broomstick, and then the finished bow (the sticker and full draw).
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Well done.Beautiful tiller. :OK
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That's brilliant!
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I’ve heard of guys using broomsticks, but never saw one. Well done for sure and great tiller.
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Tuomo ... I cannot help myself, I just have to tell you that I love the sweeping curves of that bow!
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Just goes to show if done right even a broomstick can bow! Well done. Very cool.
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I once made (in 2013) a broomstick bow. I don’t know the wood species, but it was about 1700 mm long, 28 mm diameter, with good, straight grain and dense wood, so I decided to give it a try. The end result was 41 pounds at a 27-inch draw, and it is a hunting-legal weapon here in Finland. I even left the original sticker on it.
The first image shows it in its intended use as a broomstick, and then the finished bow (the sticker and full draw).
That’s fantastic! What kinda cross section, D?
My recent discovery of black locust being available as fence posts is as exiting as mine gets.
Hickory is nonexistent here, I’ve been keeping my eye out for pickaxe handles as it’s really the only source but I can’t being myself to spend £30 odd on two handles. Works out more expensive than Ipe and Bamboo!
I’ve got an Indian Laurel bow gluing up. It has a crushing strength of 8220lbs according to wood database. Found in a house clearance in a wood turners stash.
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Tuomo ... I cannot help myself, I just have to tell you that I love the sweeping curves of that bow!
Go to your room. >:(
My local timber here in the middle Rockies is all pretty unorthodox. A straight piece more than two feet long is like finding the holy grail! Someday I'm going to try making a bow out of sagebrush...