acer pseudoplatanus, english sycamore

[stuckinthemud]

Righto, so, all this time I thought the sycamore in the bow-wood lists was the one growing in the UK, turns out its not. American sycamore is a Platanus, but sycamore over here is an Acer. Acer Pseudoplatanus (European sycamore), I think its sycamore maple over there? Anyway, it  is the most common tree here, literally a weed. As an Acer is it good for bows, and specifically as a maple with a SG of .61 is it any good for horn bows?

While I'm on a roll, I've seen there is an awful lot of Norway Maple growing here (Acer platanoides) its sg is .50, .65, anyone know anything about it?

[BowEd]

I've got sycamores growing around here.In the maple family I've presumed.So is Box elder which is here too.Silver maple is here too.All of these personally might make a lighter weight type horn bow under 50#'s.The sugar or hard maple is still the best because of it's higher density.All of these if air dried not kiln dried to keep elasticity qualities.To put the time into a horn bow I personally would'nt use border line materials as far as density goes.

[upstatenybowyer]

I think your Sycamore would be comparable to Norway Maple, White Ash or Yellow Birch. I don't know about horn bows, but I'll bet it would make a nice ALB. I'd go with wide parallel limbs halfway and taper from there.