Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: skyarrow on April 08, 2011, 12:45:22 pm

Title: Water oak
Post by: skyarrow on April 08, 2011, 12:45:22 pm
Can you make a bow out of water oak ?
Title: Re: Water oak
Post by: cracker on April 08, 2011, 12:47:47 pm
I'd say yes just about any oak should make a bow.
Title: Re: Water oak
Post by: aaron on April 08, 2011, 12:49:28 pm
you can make a bow out of any wood if you design it right...
woods that are heavy when dry work best.
look up the specific gravity of water oak- most bow woods are like .6 or  up to .9
Title: Re: Water oak
Post by: skyarrow on April 08, 2011, 12:55:17 pm
It sed .56 sg
Title: Re: Water oak
Post by: skyarrow on April 08, 2011, 12:56:42 pm
Hmm that's not far from .6 I thinkmil take some home and give it a try
Title: Re: Water oak
Post by: aaron on April 08, 2011, 01:47:45 pm
go for it
other woods that are about .5- .6
vine maple
black walnut
wych elm
Title: Re: Water oak
Post by: okie64 on April 08, 2011, 02:13:38 pm
Water oak should work fine. Its in the red oak family and is sold and labeled in lumberyards with northern and southern red oak.
Title: Re: Water oak
Post by: skyarrow on April 08, 2011, 02:45:47 pm
It definitely looks like redoak I did a test scrape on the small stave

(http://i1228.photobucket.com/albums/ee451/bloodmoonwidow/4f0f82e8.jpg)
(http://i1228.photobucket.com/albums/ee451/bloodmoonwidow/874f25b8.jpg)
(http://i1228.photobucket.com/albums/ee451/bloodmoonwidow/5491903e.jpg)
Title: Re: Water oak
Post by: skyarrow on April 08, 2011, 02:51:14 pm
Ok so what will I use the heart wood or sap wood or a mix il prolly just try and test it to see what works best
Title: Re: Water oak
Post by: okie64 on April 08, 2011, 02:53:25 pm
If it makes a good bow then we're in the business, along with postoak I'd say thats probably the most common tree growin around here. You ever tried postoak? I cut some of it last winter, but still waitin on it to cure.
Title: Re: Water oak
Post by: okie64 on April 08, 2011, 02:55:46 pm
You should be able to just peel the bark off and let that be the back of your bow. If it wasnt cut during the growing season the bark will be much harder to get off.
Title: Re: Water oak
Post by: skyarrow on April 08, 2011, 03:21:14 pm
This was cut about 4 moths ago we are drilling a few wells for my Brotherinlaw it in east Texas about 200 miles from the house and he is going to cut alot of these trees down and also some Osage :) so il be getting alot of wood woot he just bought this 25 acres and it was a forest so he is clearing the scrub  to build his house. Hehe good thing  now I have some bow wood
Title: Re: Water oak
Post by: criveraville on April 09, 2011, 12:01:29 pm
Looks like lots of bow wood.. Sweet  ;D