Madrone

[bow101]

Anyone here ever use Madrone for making Bows commonly refered to as Arbutus on the Pacific Coast. It's very hard, extremly tight grain, looks much like maple.       

[steve b.]

No, but I hear its it good.  I am working on cutting about a 10-12" tree in the near future.  Do you have access to some?

[Bryce]

Really Brittle needs backing, such rawhide or sinew.

[Blacktail]

pacific madrone...the only info i seen of madrone is an article that was written in PA years ago..from a guy in northern Cali..if i remember he used larger trees...i cant remember if he used a backing or not...john

[bow101]

No, but I hear its it good.  I am working on cutting about a 10-12" tree in the near future.  Do you have access to some?

Hopefully I'll get some soooooooon.

[steve b.]

Well I'll dry a slat of this tree and bend test it.  If its brittle like Pinecone says then I won't bother with it.  Otherwise I'll send you a big hunk of it if you want. 

[sharpend60]

I have always wanted to make a bow from it.
It is my favorite tree. Im gonna carve out a bow one of these days. Manzanita too.
I dont care what people say.

Havnt heard anything good about it in regards to bows.
Pretty wood, quick to decay, bugs like to eat it and its brittle.
People like it for fire wood.

Seems light to me, as in density. Maybe the top side of a branch would work.
It's a squirrely tree for sure.

Its the prettiest tree around.
Evergreen with edible berries (not my first choice btw) and the coolest bark in the universe.

[DarkSoul]

Did you run a search for 'madrone'?  There's quite a few topics, also 'on the other site'.

Never tried it myself, but here's some references:
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,2819.0.html
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,14110.0.html
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,12610.0.html
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,10327.0.html