Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: volarion on August 17, 2010, 07:33:41 pm

Title: first bow which of these is best???
Post by: volarion on August 17, 2010, 07:33:41 pm

since I going to be making my fist bow I wanted to ask which of the woods around my home work best for what Im doing (pyramid bow) I live on the VA-NC border almost, and I have hickory of all kinds in the forest around my house some walnut, black walnut, maple, pine and poplar which wood or combination of woods woould be best as stave for a good bow???  also where can I find an arrow shaping guide for making shafts mine always seem more square than round and I dont have a lave

Title: Re: first bow which of these is best???
Post by: youngbowyer33 on August 17, 2010, 08:06:59 pm

Hickory is good, walnut and black walnut are alright, and maple is good as well. Don't bother with poplar or pine.

Title: Re: first bow which of these is best???
Post by: Postman on August 17, 2010, 08:55:21 pm

You probably have some black locust also. I haven't tried it yet but many on here have used it

Title: Re: first bow which of these is best???
Post by: George Tsoukalas on August 17, 2010, 09:09:51 pm

Hickory is great stuff. jawge

Title: Re: first bow which of these is best???
Post by: PeteC on August 17, 2010, 10:13:03 pm

Hickory is great bow wood.In your area you should also have plenty of elms and eastern hophornbeam .Check them out too. God Bless

Title: Re: first bow which of these is best???
Post by: volarion on August 17, 2010, 10:32:55 pm

thank you all :D

Title: Re: first bow which of these is best???
Post by: ken75 on August 17, 2010, 11:08:05 pm

vol. check Lee Valley Tools on the internet they have a 3/8th veritas dowel maker that you can make shafts with . bout a 30 dollar investment shippin and all

Title: Re: first bow which of these is best???
Post by: medicinewheel on August 18, 2010, 04:14:13 am

Quote from: Postman on August 17, 2010, 08:55:21 pm

You probably have some black locust also. I haven't tried it yet but many on here have used it

I wouldn't recommend BL for the beginning bowyer due to it's tendency to fret so easily; I'd recommend hickory. My first two where Hickory board bows...

Title: Re: first bow which of these is best???
Post by: Pappy on August 18, 2010, 07:28:01 am

Hickory is hard to beat,just keep it in a dry place as you are working on it.  :)
   Pappy

Title: Re: first bow which of these is best???
Post by: Bogaman on August 18, 2010, 04:58:50 pm

Hickory would be hard to beat for a first time bow. If your doing this with some help or guidance any of the more popular woods will do. SW

Title: Re: first bow which of these is best???
Post by: Mark Anderson on August 18, 2010, 05:01:46 pm

Another vote here for hickory! Can't go too wrong with that stuff.
Mark

Title: Re: first bow which of these is best???
Post by: StevenT on August 18, 2010, 06:19:57 pm

Hey Volarion, I live in Great Bridge (Chesapeake). Just wondering what part of the VA-NC boarder you live on?

Title: Re: first bow which of these is best???
Post by: volarion on August 18, 2010, 07:10:26 pm

lunenburg county beside the nottaway river

Title: Re: first bow which of these is best???
Post by: sailordad on August 18, 2010, 07:15:17 pm

i say hickory

however as a foot note: black locust does fret easy for a newbie. but it will make you learn to tiller proper too.
                                   with black locust,proper tillering is the key to no fretting and a wonderfull bow  ;)
                                   if ya got access to it,cut it,split it,dry it,use it,send one stave to me  ;D

Title: Re: first bow which of these is best???
Post by: volarion on August 18, 2010, 07:19:18 pm

lol I would love too, I will probably let the entire thing set and only work on eekends with it anyway (work all day) so curing probably wont be a problem now I just have to find some of these trees (have a hickoy picked out already)

Title: Re: first bow which of these is best???
Post by: Jesse on August 18, 2010, 09:13:08 pm

I would go with hard maple over hickory. Hickory might be easier but I dont think its better.

Title: Re: first bow which of these is best???
Post by: Elktracker on August 19, 2010, 02:54:39 pm

John Strunk makes a good arrow plane, you can get it from 3 rivers archery or get it directly from John Strunk at spirit longbows, i think getting it from him would save you a lot of money but you can check it out on the 3 rivers archery page. Johns # at Spiritlongbows is 503-842-4944

Title: Re: first bow which of these is best???
Post by: Postman on August 20, 2010, 11:44:47 am

Did not know that about B locust - good luck with the hickory, Volarion