Gnarly American hornbeam

[bassman211]

I made quiet a few bows from that wood over the years. Some held up on the back , and some didn't. Never had belly frets, and takes heat really well, and is easy to shape on a form. The back can be iffy, so to solve that problem for me I decrown them, and sinew back them. Excellent looking character bow. I hope it holds up for you,

[RyanY]

Awesome bow. Love seeing ones like these. Hornbeam is some tough stuff!

[medicinewheel]

Yes, that is a cool bow!

[Burnsie]

Awesome bow Jim!
So - Hop Hornbeam and Hornbeam are different trees?  And Hornbeam is also referred to as "Muscle Wood"?
I've never used either one for any project - self bow or otherwise.

[bassman211]

Their is hop hornbeam, and American hornbeam, or in my opinion, so as not to get  the two  mixed up I think it should called blue beech. Different species. HHB has a strong back, but can belly fret. Blue beech never seems to belly fret, but through time can lift splinters on the back. Both are good bow wood. HHB is more popular to bow builders. Were i live you can find the blue beech along creek bottoms, but is hard to find a knot free ,straight, and long enough piece for making longer bows, but works great for short plains style bows.

[Selfbowman]

Jim I love it! I would have never seen a bow in that stave. My hats off to you sir! I have to say you must be bored and out of staves! 🤠🤠🤠

[Jim Davis]

Arvin, you are about right on your assessment of my attitude and resources. :-)

I have another stave from the same log that has less dramatic irregularities.  I do have some Osage, but it is not very good. Lately, I have been making Osage limbs backed with hickory, elm or tree of heaven. They are quick to make and look and shoot great. I'll have some of those at the Classic too.

[Selfbowman]

It’s my plan to be at the Classic unless GOD or life says different. I’ve been building quite a few bows .

[Jim Davis]

Here's a pic of one of my backed Osage bows.

[JW_Halverson]

That'll do just fine, Jimm-O, just fine indeed!

I just gotta laugh about this bow because I got some newbie on F/B telling me real bowyers never touch anything but the top-quality woods. Hey Jim, sorry to hear you have been demoted from the ranks of "Real Bowyers". Don't worry, you are in good company.
 

[WhistlingBadger]

That'll do just fine, Jimm-O, just fine indeed!

I just gotta laugh about this bow because I got some newbie on F/B telling me real bowyers never touch anything but the top-quality woods. Hey Jim, sorry to hear you have been demoted from the ranks of "Real Bowyers". Don't worry, you are in good company.

Amend that to say, "boring bowyers," and he's got it.

[Selfbowman]

I like them clean but they are not all clean. Real bowyers can build both with success.

[simk]

thats a cool piece  of wood JD  i like it.

I have not made a selfbow from Hornbeam. But I once thought about using our (european) hornbeam for laminates - a cheap local alternative to IPE, Yew and Osage I hoped. Shoots fast, takes almost no set. Good deal.

In my laminates it worked great for lower weight bows but always frets in weights above 40+. So finally no approval for my laminates . When selling bows only bomb proof material is good enough. I wonder if hop hornbeam is tougher....

[Jim Davis]

To avoid fretting, go wider and thinner.

[simk]

To avoid fretting, go wider and thinner.

sure. I can make a bow from any wood. but not the bow I want in this case