Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: trail walker on July 08, 2017, 11:14:39 pm
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do any of you guys know how alder preforms and a bow wood. any tricks to using it? i have a canyon full of it near my home and want to know if its worth stave hunting. )W(. Also what style of bow might work best with it the best branches i have seen for bow making are 36''-50'' long.
thanks a million.
Trail Walker
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I have made bows from alder, and like the way it tools and splits. If you are making lower weight bows you can get by with the normal dimensions, for a typical white wood hunting bow, as it is usually a fairly light wood. I have seen quite a variety in density and seen some heavy weight bows made from denser wood found at treeline. A two inch diameter stave will be naturally trapped, and seems to work well.
most will say it is not a bow wood, and advise to look elsewhere, and I can agree if you have a plan for an bow with a lot of features and details, but if you just want to cut some easy to dry and and work staves for for the experience and fun, Its OK for bendy handle, flatter bellied designs.
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It makes great shields!
I love how it oxidizes when you remove the bark. Keep hold of it in one spot and after a few seconds you will have a perfect hand print where the oxygen hasn't got to it :) shame it only lasts a few minutes...
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TW and W, do you know what species of Alder you are talking about? We have a ton of Red Alder here and Sitka Alder at higher altitudes. I would be a windfall for me if it was useable but I 've always heard it was brittle.
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I think red alder is pretty brittle Don. Don't know about Sitka. Cheers- Brendan
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DC, my alder is Alnus crispa or sinuata, or a hybrid.
works for a target bow, but there is no way I would bother with it if I had yew nearby
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From what I can tell, our alder(tag alder) is not very good for bows.
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Bad for bows decent for arrows....milled.
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it has red bark and is usually pretty crooked. don't know if that helps.thanks guys! i thought i was choke cherry a long while but i got wise, it was alder in disguise (cheesy quote moment ::)) i do have a plains style 46 inch 45lb self bow made from it i thought it was choke cherry. it is definitely no rocket loncher but it gave me some tillering experience. i put of oiling it ad it has started to crack, i was going to sinew back it but from what you guys have said i think i might save the sinew and go find a juniper stave. thoughts?