Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: arkdoc on April 03, 2014, 11:29:47 pm

Title: Bow wood
Post by: arkdoc on April 03, 2014, 11:29:47 pm

I am planning on doing some wood harvesting on some family ground sometime soon.  I was wondering what besides the good old osage and hickory are workable woods.  I am in Arkansas and am planning on seeing if I can find some ERC.  I was wondering about maple trees though as well.  I don't think we really get vine maple here, but we do have silver maple and red maple, will these work?  Thanks guys.

Title: Re: Bow wood
Post by: SLIMBOB on April 03, 2014, 11:35:43 pm

Sugar Maple (Hard Maple) is great.  Working on one now.  Surprisingly strong and bends like a wet noodle when heated.  I've not used Red Maple (Soft Maple) so I cant speak to that.

Title: Re: Bow wood
Post by: arkdoc on April 03, 2014, 11:45:32 pm

Sweet thanks for the heads up.  I will look for that type then.  Is it like vine maple where you can remove the bark and already have the back established, barring violating the underlying ring, or do you need to chase growth rings like osage?

Title: Re: Bow wood
Post by: JW_Halverson on April 03, 2014, 11:47:31 pm

Any whitewood can have the bark stripped and be ready to go. 

Title: Re: Bow wood
Post by: arkdoc on April 03, 2014, 11:52:59 pm

Sweet, thanks guys.

Title: Re: Bow wood
Post by: WhitefeatherFout on April 04, 2014, 10:46:07 am

You'll be disappointed with red maple in my opinion.  It becomes very brittle when dry and is no where near as good as the hard(sugar) maple.