Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: David_Daugherty on September 27, 2015, 09:14:30 pm

Title: Board bow question
Post by: David_Daugherty on September 27, 2015, 09:14:30 pm
i want to make a board bow.  I would like to slightly reflex the tips on this now.  I prefer to use a light color hard wood.  I've been looking online at hardwood lumber and came across White Ash.  Would this be a good wood to choose for this bow?  If not any suggestions would be appreciated.  I have some Purple Heart for the handle.  Thanks Guys!!
Title: Re: Board bow question
Post by: bowandarrow473 on September 27, 2015, 09:45:55 pm
Ash is not ash. White ash is a good bowwood but the quality can be hit or miss. A good piece of hickory or white oak will be just as good for the job as a white ash board. All are good bow woods but white oak likes to take a set more than other woods, so you might want to consider some reflex in the case of you using white oak.
Title: Re: Board bow question
Post by: Josh B on September 27, 2015, 11:30:07 pm
White ash is good stuff if handled properly, BUT there's no way that I would buy it online sight unseen.  Staves I'll buy if there's good pictures and the seller is knowledgeable of bow making, but not boards.  Photos can't be relied on to adequately represent the all important grain structure when looking to build a board bow.  Josh
Title: Re: Board bow question
Post by: bubby on September 28, 2015, 12:03:32 am
I have built a ton of board bows and while hickory and white oak are good woods i prefer hard maple it takes less set and makes a faster bow
Title: Re: Board bow question
Post by: bubby on September 28, 2015, 12:06:43 am
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,35312.0.html
This might help you
Title: Re: Board bow question
Post by: George Tsoukalas on September 28, 2015, 08:31:34 am
I would not buy a board stave online either.
Don't discount red oak.
More on m site.
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/index.html
Jawge
Title: Re: Board bow question
Post by: DavidV on September 28, 2015, 08:34:33 am
Look somewhere local where you can go through several boards. I'll go through entire stacks and not find anything decent so don't get hung up on species before you go in. Since nearly all hardwoods make a bow just look for something with dead straight grain and no knots or checks and figure out what to make with it afterwards.
Title: Re: Board bow question
Post by: half eye on September 28, 2015, 09:35:20 am
David,
     I have some very nice hard maple, air dried 5 years and milled off to bow staves....you can have some if you can handle the postage....wood's free. Send me a PM if you are interested,
rich
Title: Re: Board bow question
Post by: tattoo dave on September 29, 2015, 06:33:38 pm
Sounds like a heck of a good deal from half eye there David. Ash is good bow wood also, but like everybody else said. I wouldn't buy it online.

Tattoo Dave
Title: Re: Board bow question
Post by: David_Daugherty on September 29, 2015, 07:33:44 pm
Thank you to everyone that has left comments.  This helps a lot!  Yes half eye has been wonderful!!! 
Title: Re: Board bow question
Post by: bradsmith2010 on September 29, 2015, 09:09:23 pm
good luck wit your bow,, sounds like you got a good start   :)
Title: Re: Board bow question
Post by: David_Daugherty on October 07, 2015, 05:38:08 pm
(http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w401/dw_daugherty/Mobile%20Uploads/73ACF640-93E1-4583-943D-B245663C5C1B_zpscqy5ixgn.jpg) (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/dw_daugherty/media/Mobile%20Uploads/73ACF640-93E1-4583-943D-B245663C5C1B_zpscqy5ixgn.jpg.html)

This is the mailbox find from half eye today!!!  Thank you!!!
Title: Re: Board bow question
Post by: sieddy on October 07, 2015, 05:45:03 pm
That is a  bowyers dream right there. Half-eye is the man! Dang- I wish I lived in the states right now so I could ask him for some wood!  :)
Title: Re: Board bow question
Post by: bowandarrow473 on October 07, 2015, 06:24:47 pm
Awesome, he gave you the bows too?!!!
Title: Re: Board bow question
Post by: George Tsoukalas on October 07, 2015, 07:00:54 pm
That is so generous and kindhearted. Jawge
Title: Re: Board bow question
Post by: JoJoDapyro on October 07, 2015, 07:08:11 pm
Half-eye has two full hearts. I know this from experience as well.
Title: Re: Board bow question
Post by: 1442 on October 07, 2015, 07:27:08 pm
wow! Makes me happy just to see that.
I bet the post man had to make two trips to haul it all.
Title: Re: Board bow question
Post by: DC on October 07, 2015, 08:17:36 pm
You da man, half eye. very generous. :D :D :D :D
Title: Re: Board bow question
Post by: Knoll on October 07, 2015, 08:24:33 pm
Ohhhhhhhh, Myyyyyyyyy, Gooooodnesssss!!

I've been similarly blessed since beginning this wonderful hobby. Bunch of fantastic fellas here.
Title: Re: Board bow question
Post by: paco664 on October 07, 2015, 08:50:11 pm
what a generous and awesome gift...
Title: Re: Board bow question
Post by: David_Daugherty on October 07, 2015, 10:05:38 pm
Bow and arrow, yes the bows as well!!  Around here we can't find maple or ironwood.  All we have is hickory or if I drive about an hour north I can get into some Osage.  So this is a real treat!!