Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: upstatenybowyer on November 29, 2016, 08:12:47 pm
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I've read mixed reviews on American Beech as a bow wood, but seeing as though there are hundreds on my little piece of land, I thought I'd find out for myself. I was really happy with the result.
Despite the number of trees to choose from, it wasn't easy finding one straight, clear and long enough for the bow I wanted to make. I settled for straight and clear, but a little short.
58" ntn
1 3/4" wide from the fades to mid-limb tapering to 1/2" tips
Heat treated from 1" of deflex to 1" of reflex, finishing out neutral after about 100 shots
60# at 26" (1" short of my draw)
I think this bow would be awesome for a short, stocky and strong fellow
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Interesting choice on that wood ,how's it shoot ? I know from working with beech on other wood projects it sucks up moister pretty quickly.
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It shoots great. I was worried about the moisture thing, but this is one of the great things about winter for me- I heat with wood and it's very dry in my house. My hickory bows start kicking @#$, and the beech seems to like it also.
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Nice job on a difficult stave! Jawge
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Thanks Jawge. I've learned a lot from your website and posts. It's awesome to be able to get feedback from folks like yourself. ;)
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Looks like it held up pretty darn good.Looks like a great shooter.Nice job.
Beech,beech,beech....I've treed some coon up those beech trees in southern Illinois.Trees had very slick bark and a lot of those beech were hollow too.From the base clear up.Reason the coon was up there.....lol.
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Nice looking bow
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Nice bow. I've made many bows from Beech and it is a good bow wood, better than White Ash in my opinion
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I like it when unconventual wood is used. I think more of use should branch out and take risks. Keep it up man
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Nice bow. I've made many bows from Beech and it is a good bow wood, better than White Ash in my opinion
The grain in is pretty too. I think it's under appreciated in general. Rare to see furniture, floors, or anything else made of Beech. There must be a reason, I just can think of what it is. Makes great firewood also
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We also have a lot of beech! But every one of them have carvings, names and dates in them. Is this a Kentucky thing or do other people see the same thing. I know my name is on several and so are my kids names.
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The only time I have ever used beech is for wood carving , it's also used in biscuit joints for biscuit jointers because it expands rapidly after being glued to lock the joint in. I have never seen furniture made of it ether.
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Nice bow and it is always good to try out different woods.
Interesting what you are saying about the properties of American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) our beech (Fagus sylvatica) is completely different, very stable, fairly hard and dense. It has been used for old wooden plane bodies and other tools where stability and strength is important since the old days. Not great firewood either, very smokey!
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Nice bow!
And like Mike said obviously completely different from european beech. I've tried this wood, but only one time - no bow wood!
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I like it, looks familiar. I am crazy about trying all kinds of woods for bows and Beech is my favorite. Most of the Beech I have used is strong and I can use pretty much the same dimensions as I use for Hickory for a 50 pound bow. My sweetest shooters and best performers have been from Beech, look forward to seeing more people use it.
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Thanks guys! Glad to hear some other experiences with this wood. Everything from coons in southern Illinois to wooden planes in the UK!
P.S. Gutshot- it's not just a Kentucky thing, people do it a lot up here near Rochester as well ;)
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Nice bow!
And like Mike said obviously completely different from european beech. I've tried this wood, but only one time - no bow wood!
Hello Simon, can you tell us how was your experience with european beech as bow wood?
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Nice bow!
And like Mike said obviously completely different from european beech. I've tried this wood, but only one time - no bow wood!
Hello Simon, can you tell us how was your experience with european beech as bow wood?
This wood takes excessiv set and after a few nice shoots it is a wet noodle
And it is a really no attractive wood, here were I live this wood has a lot of lime included in its structure - so all tools become dull in short usage. There are a lot of alternatives, so I don't use it anymore
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What a pity, european beech is the most common hardwood in my country. I have a pair of boards with perfect grain that I wanted to try, but now I will use them for something else.