Author Topic: Does Leyland Cypress make good bow wood?  (Read 3579 times)

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Offline Caveman_Sam

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Does Leyland Cypress make good bow wood?
« on: May 18, 2013, 12:14:08 am »
I had the good fortune to get the landowners permission to saw up and take away a small tree sized fallen branch of Leyland Cypress.  I got bits n bobs for spoons n bowls but managed to spot a straight log section :P

Just wondering what the characteristics of Layland Cypress are. 

p.s  For ne 1 who has read my previous posts..  It was fresh as hell n still raining so that bark pealed like a beauty :)

Offline TacticalFate

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Re: Does Leyland Cypress make good bow wood?
« Reply #1 on: May 18, 2013, 10:01:17 am »
http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-identification/softwoods/leyland-cypress/

with an SG of ~.45, seems borderline at best, probably not worth it. Though you can certainly test the SG of the branch, as branches of conifers are usually denser than the main trunk. The more rings, the better.

Offline DuBois

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Re: Does Leyland Cypress make good bow wood?
« Reply #2 on: May 18, 2013, 08:09:57 pm »
I don't have a lot of experience but it seems cypress has been mentioned in a few places in TBB and elsewhere as a bow wood. Not sure on the species. SG is similar to ERC which is a juniper and junipers are supposedly good with backings like sinew. I'm sure someone with more knowledge and experience will weigh in soon. Hope that helps. Marco

Offline JonW

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Re: Does Leyland Cypress make good bow wood?
« Reply #3 on: May 18, 2013, 08:44:51 pm »
Not sure of the particular species but the Seminoles managed to make bows from it.