Author Topic: Hackberry?  (Read 3388 times)

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Offline KShip85

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Hackberry?
« on: November 12, 2009, 12:36:23 am »
I've got a 77 inch hackberry stave that I'd like to try to make a warbow with and am wondering if anyone has tried it.  Just curious if it will stand up to the stresses of a high weight bow.  I'd like to get something over 100 lbs if possible.  Here are a couple pictures of the stave.  Thanks!

Kip 



Kip Shipley    Bloomington, IN

Offline Hrothgar

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Re: Hackberry?
« Reply #1 on: November 14, 2009, 07:54:52 am »
Kip, I've never finished a hackberry bow, but have cut and split several staves. They twisted so badly as they dried I finally abandoned the idea. Not to discourage you, hackberry tends to have a knot-free, even grain. The wood is fairly easy to work, and the tension and hardness is comparable to elm. I have also read that the stiffness, or ability to "snap" back is much slower than elm. Looks to me like you have a pretty descent, large stave, I'd try it. Keep us posted, Eric
" To be, or not to be"...decisions, decisions, decisions.