Simple Chokecherry Bow

[Zion]

After breaking several maple bows i really needed to make a bow so i got this piece of chokecherry that's been seasoning for like 3 months. I can't believe how tough this wood is, it's very hard to break for such a light wood! I didn't do much finish work on this bow and kept it really simple. I didn't use a tiller tree or anything, i just took scrapes off certain areas of the limb while shooting until the handshock went away and the arrow flight became straighter. I think that's a really effective way of tillering, i'm gonna do that more often!

54" TtT

70# @ 24"

For a weight like that at a short length i was surprised it only look like an inch of set at rest, DEFINITELY need to get more of this stuff!

[Zion]

I also messed with the pics so if they look like crap that's why lol

[Zion]

A 'closeup' of the grip with the cool heartwood

[nineworlds9]

Dang what a little monster!  Nice.  That full draw pic very nice, great arc on that bow

[Peacebow_Coos]

Nice man, you make some sweet bows low tech style I dig it.  Keepin em above 70# too, that's legit!

[Jodocus]

Another nice shortie! I like the handle a lot. How much does it weigh?

[Cameroo]

That's a sweet bow.  I bet it packs quite a punch for it's size!

[burn em up chuck]

    very cool, keep em com in

                      chuck

[Zion]

Thanks everyone!!

Well early on in the making i took it for a few shots just to see what it would do, and it was pretty shocky and my arrows wobbled when i shot. So i looked at the braced profile and determined which areas looked like they needed wood removed, and took about 50 scrapes with my pocket knife. Then i shot it 5-6 times and repeated over and over until i liked the way it shot. It was really cool to 'feel' my bow come into a good tiller with each new volley!! It goes to show that in the bush ya don't need a tillering tree or mirror or anything, the bow will tell you if the tiller's off!

Jodocus, sorry i'm not the most astute dude with measuring stuff but i put it on my scale and it barely seems to change, all i know is it weighs less than a pound lol 

It definitely packs a punch, i think it is more responsive to irregularities in form tho. (cuz it's shorter)

Overall it was really fun to make, i am very impressed with this wood.

[HighEagle]

Nice Bow Zion, have you tried any Serviceberry yet? you should have it around if you have the Chokecherry and Hawthorn
 
Good on ya,Chuck

[ionicmuffin]

if you want zion, ill follow a build-a-long on one like that. Oh, and nice bow. tillers good for not looking at it.

[Zion]

Thanks HighEagle and Muffin.

Yes i have been using Serviceberry for a while now. (made probably 7 bows from it.) I really like it, i'ts very similar to both chokecherry and hawthorn. All of these make awesome bows!!! It seems like the berry bushes have good results....

Thanks Muffin, i'll think about making one if i get a piece of wood that speaks to me. (Something that'll take more than a few hours to make lol.) I was pretty surprised how effective it is to tiller this way, a useful thing to practice i think!