Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Hoodoo on March 29, 2009, 05:23:26 pm
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What can anyone tell me about Hickory and/or White ash?
Thanks
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Both will make good bows with proper design and execution.
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I've used both to make several bows with the proper design.
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hard to go wrong with either. forgiving, plentiful and reliable.
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Good wood,both. :) Keep it dry as you work it and it will make a fine bow.I do alot, and help
with a lot made of Hickory and it is tough wood. :)
Pappy
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they will work well, both are pretty hard to break, especially hickory (I've heard)
Nick
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Hickory is a great wood when kept dry both before and after it's a bow. I've had a lot of trouble with ash chrysalling but that's probably my fault. Jawge
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Hickory works. Haven't used much ash, but regard it as "hickory lite."
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I've used both. Never had any problems with ash chrysalling myself. Ash tends to take a bit of set, but makes a good bow. Ash is a joy to split and work. Like Pappy said, keep them both good and dry while you're working them.
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I've used both, and have had a lot of problems with hickory going bad. I don't know it its the central PA humidity or what, but I've cut and split hickory, stored inside right away, and in a year it was full of little bug holes with dust falling out. I've had kiln dried hickory lumber go punky stored inside (and not in a damp basement or the like). I have given up cutting it.
Dave
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I like hickory...it burnshes up nice and can take a lot of abuse (if it's dry).
Ash...I dunno...I would put it in the same class as red oak. I keep seeing that ash was used quite often by Native Americans (as well as hickory) so perhaps there are (or were) some good ash trees out there. The white ash I get at the lumber yard has been brittle in my experience.
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Many fine bows have been made with both woods.
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Seems like the Europenas like the ash alot as thats what they seems to have alot of. I like the yeller stuff myself but then again I live in the land of the yellow brick road. My first several bows were hickory and I like them well enough. Grain is beautiful but it seems as if they get sluggish in the humidity. Unless I am making someone a wall hanger or moving to the desert I don;t think I wil fiddle with it anymore. I ahve'nt worked ash yet but would give it a try if I could identify it in the woods while I'm harvesting osage. I suspect that heat treating could reduce the set possibilities. Dnany