Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Jakesnyder on September 21, 2019, 07:42:19 pm

Title: Wood id???
Post by: Jakesnyder on September 21, 2019, 07:42:19 pm

Any one know? They grow in clumps with 3 or 4 seperate shoots coming out of the ground.

Title: Re: Wood id???
Post by: Jakesnyder on September 21, 2019, 07:43:50 pm

I was thinking hazel.

Title: Re: Wood id???
Post by: Pat B on September 21, 2019, 09:02:54 pm

...or witch hazel.

Title: Re: Wood id???
Post by: bownarra on September 22, 2019, 01:44:25 am

Hazel

Title: Re: Wood id???
Post by: Jakesnyder on September 22, 2019, 03:04:35 am

Is it a good bow wood?

Title: Re: Wood id???
Post by: Santanasaur on September 22, 2019, 05:29:23 am

Looks like witch hazel to me. I’ve made a few bows out of it, I like it for sapling bows. Very flexible and tension strong but a little spongy in compression. Heat treats and bends well but often has spiral grain that ruins splitting.Usually i’ll work the stave to the pith before splitting, just ignoring the spiral grain. Id saw if I had a good bandsaw. There is some interlocking grain so this stuff can tolerate plenty of runoff and back violations.

Title: Re: Wood id???
Post by: Marc St Louis on September 22, 2019, 07:47:02 am

Looks like Alder to me

Title: Re: Wood id???
Post by: SLIMBOB on September 22, 2019, 08:38:37 am

Must be something from the Frozen North.  A few apps available that help identify some of the more common things.  Leaf Snap being one.  Not tremendously helpful here in the south, but I have been told it is more useful father north.  Might be worth a look if nothing else.

Title: Re: Wood id???
Post by: Pat B on September 22, 2019, 08:50:42 am

The leaf of witch hazel is uneven where the stem attaches. one side is shorter than the other.

Title: Re: Wood id???
Post by: bushboy on September 23, 2019, 08:05:53 am

Cut the bark a little.if it's red it's alder.