Primitive Archer

Ash makes an ok bow. I'd never say its great in any way. But, thays from a guy who only made a few bows of one type of mystery ash. Looking at the specific gravity of ash, the best ash looks like it would be white ash, if you can find a dense stave, as it can get as dense as osage. But elm, now thats a different subject. Elm has an interlocking grain that makes it very difficult to brake and is strong in compression. Heat treat will greatly improve elm as well. Red elm is the exception, it stinks as a bow wood. Ramen noodles would do better. The compression strength on red elm is absent. Rock elm can be so good its on par with some of the medium density osages. Wych Elm is a lesser wood than Rock Wlm but it just needs to be made wider to compensate and you will have a very good bow.

I cannot think of a reason why it would not!

Looking good to me, that was a lot of bends to straighten.  Hope tillering goes well this weekend.

I have mine still a couple lbs heavy, but been working on sanding it all smooth, so hoping that will get the last little bit and then I can finish it up this week or next.

Hi Helen, It is possible for some women to draw heavy bows. I remember seeing old black and white photos of a Chinese lady shooting a horn/sinew composite bow which was stated at being over 100lbs.

I would start up low and increase weight only when you are capable and confident shooting your current heavy bow, for several repetitions. Go too fast, too soon, and most people will start to get injuries. Think of it more like gymnastics where it's not just completing a maneuver, but how well you do it that counts.  Strength is not built by trying for max efforts, but by training and mastering a manageable weight. Max efforts are for testing and demonstrating the strength that you have already built. I wish I had learnt that much earlier in life.

I read flies, ants and beetles. Also read you need 2 completely different trees in order for them to pollinate. I’m not sure but I’m guessing it’s 2 trees that are from different plants and not from the same root system. Just stuff I have read online, for what it’s worth.
 On another note, I went out into the woods behind my house because I was hearing someone running a chainsaw. As I was walking around out there I started seeing pawpaw trees all over the place.
I collected 4 fruits and left. I been living here for 30 plus years and never knew they were out there.. Funny what you see when you look around.

Pat B
Here’s some stuff I found online
Pawpaw flowers are pollinated by various flies, beetles, and other crawling insects attracted to their slightly sweet scent, which can be confused with rotting meat. Bees are not effective pawpaw pollinators. Since pawpaw trees are not self-fertile and require cross-pollination between genetically different trees for fruit production, hand-pollination with a soft brush or cotton swab is a common practice to ensure fruit set, especially for growers.
Pawpaw Pollinators
Flies: Various types of flies, including houseflies and blowflies, are attracted to the flowers and can help spread pollen.
Beetles: Different beetle species also play a role as natural pollinators for pawpaw trees.
Other Insects: Other small insects that are drawn to the flower's scent contribute to the pollination process.
Why Pollination is Challenging
Protogyny: Pawpaw flowers are protogynous, meaning the female and male parts of the flower mature at different times. Flowers first act as female and then later become male, requiring pollen from a different tree.
Ineffective Natural Pollinators: While flies and beetles pollinate pawpaw trees, they are generally inefficient at it.
How to Hand-Pollinate Pawpaws
Identify Flower Stages: You need to collect pollen from a male flower (which is dark-colored and has a swollen stigma) and transfer it to a female flower (which is green and has a small opening) on a different, genetically distinct tree.
Collect Pollen: Use a soft, flexible brush or cotton swab to collect pollen from the mature male flower.
Transfer Pollen: Gently swirl the brush inside the receptive stigma of the female flower, ensuring it is coated thoroughly with pollen.
Tips for Success
Multiple Trees: You must have at least two genetically different pawpaw trees for successful cross-pollination.
Warm Weather: Pollination is more effective during warm, calm, shirtsleeve weather.
Patience: Hand-pollination requires patience, but it's a relatively simple technique to improve your chances of getting fruit.