Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: hilltophickory on May 31, 2013, 01:32:28 pm

Title: The soft wood bows??
Post by: hilltophickory on May 31, 2013, 01:32:28 pm
I make most my bows with Hickory and hedge , I hear of vine maple , are the vine maples in OHIO ? and are there any other softwoods that can be used , I correct myself maples are a hard wood , do any one have pics of vine maple trees?
Title: Re: The soft wood bows??
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on May 31, 2013, 01:36:44 pm
Vine maple is a NW tree. W have none anywhere near this part of the country. Hackberry, elm, ash, oak, hop hornbeam, beech, maple, buckthorn and many more. Get a "Tress of Ohio" book if you can.
Title: Re: The soft wood bows??
Post by: Ed Brooks on May 31, 2013, 01:42:34 pm
Hilltop, there is a picture of some vine maple  on this link, it's the 3rd pic down. http://www.patriciaklichen.com/2011_10_01_archive.html
or google it and look for the nastiest clump of brushy looking tree for lack of a better term. Hope this helps.
Title: Re: The soft wood bows??
Post by: hilltophickory on May 31, 2013, 01:44:50 pm
I have thought of hackberry it is extremely tough to split for fire wood so it should be durable, I tried sassafrass  but did not like it one bit, and I don't like backing bows I want to see what they can do on their own.
Title: Re: The soft wood bows??
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on May 31, 2013, 01:46:17 pm
Stick with osage my friend.
Title: Re: The soft wood bows??
Post by: hilltophickory on May 31, 2013, 01:47:01 pm
Thanks , yep we don't have that tree
Title: Re: The soft wood bows??
Post by: George Tsoukalas on May 31, 2013, 01:50:08 pm
LOL. Y'all really think oak et all are softwoods? Softwoods usually means evergreens. Yew, cedar and juniper are the only softwoods I know of that will make a bow. Fir maybe but I wouldn't use it for a bow. :) Jawge
Title: Re: The soft wood bows??
Post by: George Tsoukalas on May 31, 2013, 01:53:04 pm
Did you mean whitewood bows, hill? If yes, then the list is quite long. Jawge
Title: Re: The soft wood bows??
Post by: Joec123able on May 31, 2013, 02:19:17 pm
I have thought of hackberry it is extremely tough to split for fire wood so it should be durable, I tried sassafrass  but did not like it one bit, and I don't like backing bows I want to see what they can do on their own.



Hackberry is one of the best white woods you can get for bows IN MY OPINION and I belive the hard splitting charecteristic is due to its interlocking grain.
Title: Re: The soft wood bows??
Post by: rossfactor on May 31, 2013, 02:28:10 pm
Vine Maple is hardwood. So are Hackberry, elm, ash, oak, hop hornbeam.  Hornbeam is almost as hard as Osage.

Gabe

 
Title: Re: The soft wood bows??
Post by: RyanY on May 31, 2013, 03:23:56 pm
Some say poplar will make a bow.  ;)
Title: Re: The soft wood bows??
Post by: Slackbunny on May 31, 2013, 04:00:26 pm
Vine Maple is hardwood. So are Hackberry, elm, ash, oak, hop hornbeam.  Hornbeam is almost as hard as Osage.

Gabe

With a very similar modulus of elasticity as well.
Title: Re: The soft wood bows??
Post by: bubby on May 31, 2013, 04:01:34 pm
Some say poplar will make a bow.  ;)

not again ::) :laugh:
Title: Re: The soft wood bows??
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on May 31, 2013, 04:04:52 pm
Bub I shot that stinkin' cardboard bow, it was quite pleasant really...........
Title: Re: The soft wood bows??
Post by: bubby on May 31, 2013, 04:09:14 pm
I saw the pics pearlie, just that it keeps coming back up like bad Chinese food >:D
Title: Re: The soft wood bows??
Post by: Slackbunny on May 31, 2013, 04:13:37 pm
I saw the pics pearlie, just that it keeps coming back up like bad Chinese food >:D

Or great mexican food.
Title: Re: The soft wood bows??
Post by: Onebowonder on May 31, 2013, 04:24:15 pm
I think Ryoon could make a bullet proof bow out of left over strips of polystyrene insulation board with wood grained contact paper adheased to it!  In fact, now that it's been said, ...he probably will!!!

OneBow
Title: Re: The soft wood bows??
Post by: hilltophickory on May 31, 2013, 05:56:01 pm
YEP, George the suns getting to me I was meaning White woods, Sorry .
Title: Re: The soft wood bows??
Post by: Buckeye Guy on May 31, 2013, 06:28:19 pm
Where you at in Ohio ?
South of Columbus is where thousands of Osage are cut each year for fence posts !
So unless you live in my backyard ,where all the Osage trees have mysteriously disappeared you have some near you !
Hickory is a better choice anyway !  >:D
Pearly likes him some Hackberry , The Hornbeams are all over the place, after shooting Ryoons Poplar bow I may be up for a trade for one of those stave's if you want to  !  >:D
Take care and drive with your eyes open , you will be amazed what you see !
Guy
Title: Re: The soft wood bows??
Post by: hilltophickory on May 31, 2013, 08:16:41 pm
I am located straight south of Columbus but near the Great OHIO river , in the hills not far from Shawnee parks.
Title: Re: The soft wood bows??
Post by: George Tsoukalas on May 31, 2013, 10:08:38 pm
Oh ok. The list is quite long, Hill. Hickory, oak (red and white), maple, black locust, elm, hop hornbeam, hornbeam, etc will make fine bows. Ash will too but it has not for me. LOL.
Jawge
Title: Re: The soft wood bows??
Post by: Buckeye Guy on May 31, 2013, 10:24:08 pm
Where is Bear at? , hope he sees this he is by Cincy should be able to help you spot some hedge !
It can't be far to some good fence rows !
You Are in a good spot for many good bow woods !