Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: anasazi on October 20, 2012, 10:42:49 pm

Title: black walnut for a bow
Post by: anasazi on October 20, 2012, 10:42:49 pm

Has any one tried using black walnut for bow wood yet? Is the heart wood or sap wood better or a mixture of the two? And do they have to be backed? I am trying to keep all my bows around 50# and have been working on a flat bow and a shortie out of other woods and would like to make something similar to a holmguard some day but i am not sure if a particular style works better with the black walnut either.  What do you guys think

Title: Re: black walnut for a bow
Post by: bubby on October 21, 2012, 12:59:21 am

yeah it will make good bows, their have been a couple posted in just the last feww days, Bub

Title: Re: black walnut for a bow
Post by: soy on October 21, 2012, 02:24:10 am

Quote from: bubby on October 21, 2012, 12:59:21 am

yeah it will make good bows, their have been a couple posted in just the last feww days, Bub

Dont believe him... send all black walnut to me immediately for proper disposal >:D
 Just playing it'll do for a bow... I go for a pyramid style ;)

Title: Re: black walnut for a bow
Post by: anasazi on October 21, 2012, 05:48:57 am

There is a guy here who is taking out two rather large walnut trees so i guess i will see what i can get

Title: Re: black walnut for a bow
Post by: sleek on October 21, 2012, 05:56:25 am

My experience is limited to 3 bows. Two broke, both after taking massive ( in the 4 inch range ) set, the last still shooting, coming in at 15@24 inches. Even it took set to the point of almost being bent enough to not need bracing. I bamboo backed one bit and again, massive set, of course. I even trapped the back. No help. I will NEVER work it again. But I have a friend that does well with it, though he finds he has to rawhide back it to keep em together often times. Good luck, not trying to discourage you, but just saying to maybe help you from making mistakes.