Best wood for board bow ?

[Catkinson]

While my Osage st aves are drying over the next few months / years:) I thought of making a board bow or two for practice  before I try a Osage stave .
I'm a newbie and thought it would be good practice ( unless a u finish bow would be better.)
Also where to obtain the board ? Thanks so much !!

[bradsmith2010]

guys have not yet to agree on this as long as I remember,
my two favorites are hickory or red oak,, maybe not the best,,home depot ,,,or lumberyard,,

[ksnow]

I would recommend hickory over red oak any day. Try to find a hardwoods dealer that will let you pick through the piles. Hickory, ash, oak (red and white) will all work. Make sure to pick the best grain possible. I would say grain is more important than wood species, to a point. I would also recommend board bows over you finish bows, you can get a lot more practice for the dollar with boards. Keep the design long and wide in the beginning until you develop the skill and eye for tillering.

Kyle

[bassman]

You can make all bamboo floor board bows also. Vertical grain with finished side for the back, and backed with linen.It is a grass,and easy to work with.Makes a decent 40 lb bow.You buy it ,and use it right now just like a board bow.Just another option.The right piece of Hickory ,and Red Oak make good board bows as said above.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Hickory will allow a ton of mistakes and still let you launch arrows. 

[Badger]

Hickory, white and red oak, maple both hard and soft, ash,

[Pat B]

Red oak is probably easiest to find at Home Depot, Lowe's or Meynards.
Read George Tsoukalas' website. Lots of good info on selecting the board and building the bow.
 A u-finish bow is just that. someone else does the tillering, you finish. You won't learn much from that and you can probably buy 10 boards for what you'd pay for it.

[gifford]

Take your time going through the boards but don't be surprised if none meet your criteria. Try again in a few days, most big box stores really go through the lumber during building season. If there is a small independent lumber yard near you, they would be worth checking out.

A local lumber yard in my town has a limited selection of hardwoods but they are stored in cubby holes so you can at least see the end sections. Some will let you got through the piles at your own pace but as a lumberman told me, 'straight boards come from straight piles'. Be sure to leave the lumber piles better than to found them and you will likely be welcome to return and try again.


Good luck in your search and subsequent bow making.

[Catkinson]

Will a hickory board need backed ?
Thanks y’all!!
Also will I have to type the letters in the box and answer the security questions every post ?

[turtle]

Will a hickory board need backed ?
Thanks y’all!!
Also will I have to type the letters in the box and answer the security questions every post ?

Not if it has good grain. The security thing will go away after a few posts.

[Catkinson]

Thanks Steve !

[George Tsoukalas]

I like red oak because it is easy to get and works well. You need straight grained stock. More on my site.
Thanks for mentioning  my site, Pat.
Jawge

http://traditionalarchery101.com

[bubby]

I have a ton of success with Maple

[bubby]

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,35312.msg464947.html#msg464947

[Hrothgar]

You might check ebay, there are a couple guys who regularly post staves of assorted woods, oftentimes $35 will be one. Make sure the wood isn't freshly cut.  Hackberry is an easy wood to work and inexpensive. I would probably look for a stave rather than sawn stock if you are planning on working with osage later on, just my opinion.