Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Flight Bows => Topic started by: Del the cat on June 10, 2019, 12:18:27 am

Title: Ash or Hickory?
Post by: Del the cat on June 10, 2019, 12:18:27 am

My heavy draw ELB flight bow exploded in the hands on my mate JT yesterday... see witty post here:-
https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2019/06/il-bastardo-es-muerto.html (https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2019/06/il-bastardo-es-muerto.html)
For a replacement I'm going to cut down and re-tiller two of his bows that have nice clean backs (he has a shed load of warbows  ::) :o ;D )
I'm also going to make on of heat treated Yew backed with either edge grain Hickory (I have a slat) or flat grain Ash, I have a lovely quarter log of Ash with bark still on and I could cut a slice off that using the under-bark surface.
Now I know there are no sure fire answers, but which does the team think will be the best? I'm looking at say 90# @ 28" initially from a 66" bow, narrow and deep, and punchy as Mike Tyson in a bad mood  :o.

With 3 bows to test against each other hopefully we'll find a winner for the ILAA Mary Rose shoot at the start of July.
Del

Title: Re: Ash or Hickory?
Post by: Marc St Louis on June 10, 2019, 05:32:26 am

If it's American Ash then I would go with the Hickory.

I prefer Ash for backings over Hickory but only when quarter sawn, I've had plain sawn failures

Title: Re: Ash or Hickory?
Post by: Del the cat on June 10, 2019, 05:53:45 am

Thanks Marc I was hoping you'd chip in. I haven't got long to make this and it's a matter of pride between an English and an Austrian bowyer.... can't have an Austrian winning the Mary Rose shoot  ;) ;D
Del

Title: Re: Ash or Hickory?
Post by: Del the cat on June 10, 2019, 07:33:54 am

I've just quarter sawn some Ash... that was fun ::) .
I had to set the bandsaw to slow speed high torque and a bit of beeswax on the blade helped.
Got a couple of decent 3/26" slats.
I might cut some more now it's all set up :)
Del