Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: karaterick on April 04, 2013, 01:06:48 pm

Title: Black Walnut Any Good for Bow
Post by: karaterick on April 04, 2013, 01:06:48 pm

 I'm in WNC and have access to plenty of black walnut and hickory. I know the hickory is a preferred wood, but what about the black walnut. I'm sure it would look beautiful, but would it make a good bow?

Thanks
Title: Re: Black Walnut Any Good for Bow
Post by: hbbows on April 04, 2013, 01:37:12 pm
I like working with BW.  the only problem I've had is some crysaling on a rounded belly.  Good luck with it.
Title: Re: Black Walnut Any Good for Bow
Post by: DarkSoul on April 04, 2013, 01:58:30 pm
Run a search for "walnut". You can dig up a lot more info than asking in this new topic. There´s so much already available.
Title: Re: Black Walnut Any Good for Bow
Post by: osagejack on April 04, 2013, 02:08:59 pm
you can make a bow out of walnut,,but hickory is by far the better choice
Title: Re: Black Walnut Any Good for Bow
Post by: Pat B on April 04, 2013, 02:12:12 pm
...and hickory backed walnut is an option.   Walnut will make a good selfbow if slightly overbuilt and you use the ring under the bark as your backing.
 I'm assuming you are from Western North Carolina. Where? I live in Brevard.
Title: Re: Black Walnut Any Good for Bow
Post by: blackhawk on April 04, 2013, 02:14:37 pm
NO!!!!!!!  >:D
Title: Re: Black Walnut Any Good for Bow
Post by: rossfactor on April 04, 2013, 02:24:05 pm
Walnut, designed properly (just a bit wider/longer than oak) is an outstanding bow wood! Don't listen to the naysayers!  O:)  Well designed walnut bow can be very fast and light in the hand. Plus its beautiful wood.

Some people need really forgiving wood (like Osage) to make good bows  ;)  :laugh:, but don't let that bother you! 
Title: Re: Black Walnut Any Good for Bow
Post by: bow101 on April 04, 2013, 02:37:21 pm
Some of these softer, volatile woods like Black walnut, cherry, inferior maple and the like are used mostly for accents in laminated bows, such as veneers, possibly belly woods.
Title: Re: Black Walnut Any Good for Bow
Post by: karaterick on April 04, 2013, 03:00:27 pm
...and hickory backed walnut is an option.   Walnut will make a good selfbow if slightly overbuilt and you use the ring under the bark as your backing.
 I'm assuming you are from Western North Carolina. Where? I live in Brevard.

I live in Black Mountain, a little east of Asheville. My parents have 50 acres on a mountain side in Burnsville and lots of trees!!  ;D
Title: Re: Black Walnut Any Good for Bow
Post by: Pat B on April 04, 2013, 05:32:06 pm
I was at Tysons in Black Mt just the other day and dropped a bundle of $ there.  ;D
Title: Re: Black Walnut Any Good for Bow
Post by: Joec123able on April 04, 2013, 06:10:20 pm
Black walnut is awesome bow wood and it's just plain beautiful
Title: Re: Black Walnut Any Good for Bow
Post by: bushboy on April 04, 2013, 07:57:50 pm
Walnut dents very readily and I've had failures on well shot in bows because of my lack of pampering!not a battle proven wood for trounching through the bush in my experience!it's pretty though!
Title: Re: Black Walnut Any Good for Bow
Post by: Badly Bent on April 04, 2013, 08:27:46 pm
Walnut will make you a fine bow, just peel the bark and use the sapwood ring under it for the back. Make sure it is good and dry
because it seems prone to set in my experience. I've made eight walnut bows to date and just harvested another tree for some
future walnut bows. If you have easy access to it I say give it a try, may not be the fastest horse in the stable but it will get the
job done. Easy to work with tools too. :)