English Hardwoods ?

[legend]

Hello All
I am just gathering a little more information before I go ahead with making a static recurve bow . I have a basic understanding of the right hardwoods to use as a stave if youre talking about American Hardwoods , but can any of the members give me their thoughts on apart from Yew , what are the best English Hardwoods to use for such a bow ? Would white oak be suitable ? or what other woods which are suited to steam bending ( with both strength and elasticity ) and is decent in both tension and compression ?
Many thanks .
Mike

[PatM]

Laburnum, Elm, Blackthorn.

[Lucasade]

Hazel, ash, elder too

[Del the cat]

I've made a cool Hazel static recurve...
https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/recurve-beltane-hazel-full-draw.html
https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/paint-job-and-tiller-video.html
If you follow the build of this bow you'll see all the problems I had an maybe you'll realise it's no task for a beginner.
Suffice it to say my regular 3D shooting bow, is a simple Neolithic style Yew bow... no fancy recurves.
If you really must try for recurves, I'd say get it built and shooting first and then put in the reflex.
Del

[legend]

Thanks Guys .
Mike

[stuckinthemud]

Don't forget holly and field maple. Of course, there's all the fruitwoods too,  except for cherry.

[stuckinthemud]

In theory, sycamore should be good, but I haven't found anyone who has tried it

[Del the cat]

In theory, sycamore should be good, but I haven't found anyone who has tried it

Steve Ralphs makes a lot of affordable Sycamore bread and butter English Longbows, they are good work horses.
Del

[turmoiler]

When you say sicamore do you refer to sicamore maple or platanus sp?

[Lucasade]

Sycamore in the UK almost always refers to acer pseudoplatanus. Also known as the Warwickshire weed around my neck of the woods.

[stuckinthemud]

Its not the same sycamore as the American species on the bow woods list

[mikekeswick]

Yes sycamore is acer pseudoplantnus. An invasive non native weed! It will make a good bow. Strong in tension not great in compression responds very well to heat treating and a trapped back but will make a decent bow without it.
White oak isn't native!
The best for a static recurve are yew, laburnum and any of the elms.

[RatherBinTheWoods]

Hawthorn is good in compression and tension and is regarded as a superior wood ....if you can find a piece long night which is not impossible but unlikely. Holly is also supposed to be good. I'm my limited experience elm is nice to work and tough and hazel is good and even better with a belly heat treat. My regular shooter is now as hazel stick bow.