Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: bearbowman on August 24, 2009, 02:30:04 pm

Title: Box elder for a bow?
Post by: bearbowman on August 24, 2009, 02:30:04 pm

I had part of a box elder tree come down in my yard during a storm. I took one stave from it. It has a load of prop twist. Has anyone ever made a bow from this type of wood? I would assume a wide prfoile would be in order.

Title: Re: Box elder for a bow?
Post by: JustAim on August 24, 2009, 02:49:38 pm

Boxer Elder is considered a borderline bow wood according to Tim Baker. Keep it wide and long and tiller it for a low draw weight. You might also consider backing it as well.

Title: Re: Box elder for a bow?
Post by: Hillbilly on August 24, 2009, 04:42:21 pm

I would back it with a thick piece of some other wood and then rasp all the belly wood off before tillering it. :)

Title: Re: Box elder for a bow?
Post by: JW_Halverson on August 24, 2009, 04:45:38 pm

Box elder (Acer negundo) is a maple, and maples can make good bows from time to time. 

I would say "go for it", keep it wide and a little extra long.  If anything, it will teach you more about tillering.

Title: Re: Box elder for a bow?
Post by: Dano on August 24, 2009, 04:48:44 pm

Hillbilly's advice is good. ;D

Title: Re: Box elder for a bow?
Post by: Josh on August 24, 2009, 05:36:31 pm

LOL Hillbilly!!!   Mind if I steal that one?    ;D

Title: Re: Box elder for a bow?
Post by: richpierce on August 24, 2009, 07:54:28 pm

You can use boxelder for a fire for heating wood to bend it or for belly tempering, but in addition to it being soft and punky it doesn't burn any better than willow or cottonwood.  It is about the most useless wood in the world.  An expert bowyer might be able to get a 30 pound bow out of it that would last, but it would be a slow overbuilt 30 pound bow.  A frog-killer.

It's just not worth it working with bad wood.

Title: Re: Box elder for a bow?
Post by: bearbowman on August 25, 2009, 12:27:10 pm

Thanks for all the replies. Hillbilly, you gave me a great laugh today. Well I guess I'll pull it out of my garage and put it in my wood stack for the next weekend fire we have. Sounds like fuel for the kids hot dogs and marshmellows.

Title: Re: Box elder for a bow?
Post by: JW_Halverson on August 27, 2009, 03:13:03 pm

The peoples in the Missouri River Valley did tap it for sap in the spring and make a sweet syrup from it, being a maple.  Someone mentioned to me that it also has a bitter aftertaste. 

Title: Re: Box elder for a bow?
Post by: youngbowyer33 on August 28, 2009, 01:43:16 pm

where i live it is known as manitoba maple and it makes garbage bows.well i suppose someone could make a decent bow but i couldnt