Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Kegan on April 30, 2008, 08:36:37 pm
-
I tried looking for an older post asking about it, but couldn't find one. So I figured I'd just ask myself- what's everyone's favorite bow wood (and why?).
Seems that, when all is said and done, I like red and white oak. we have a fair amout of it, it dries quickly, works easily and makes a bvery nice, hard hitting bow.
Anyone else?
-
I like osage when I can get a good stave cheap. I also like black locust because it makes a mean bow and is available locally for the cost of a little time and sweat.
Ash makes fast shooting bows but takes a bit of set. Hickory is durable but not as snappy (a problem for me as I often make short bows). It's also tough to keep hickory dry. I've found red oak to work reasonably well, although I have to say I've never built a bow from it without backing it, so I can't say how much of that performance is due to the red oak and how much was due to the sinew backing.
I'd say osage and black locust would tie for my favorite, overall.
-Eric
-
The kind without grain runout. ;)
If you are in to a mind splitting head ache try this and then an advil. Or the other way around. http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,4916.0.html Justin
-
I don't have an official favorite at the moment - I wanna try em all ;D. Have made some out of White oak, Hick, Ash, and osage - really liked the ash and have been hording all the osage I can. With my limited knowledge I think it really is better ::).
-
Hedge, because its yellow.
-
Bodark, because it turns darker with time, and I just love the patina of a ten year old Osage bow. 8)
-
;) I have made bows from black locust, white oak, elm, hickory,black walnut, and last but not least osage. All of the different species of wood that I listed have made good serviceable bows, however; for performance, durability, character and overall quality,osage is by far my personal favorite.
-
osage here too. hard to beat a bois de arc recurve. elm is next though. i dont have as much luck recurving it as i have seen others do. a lor of mine pulls out, but i imagine its due to the humid FL climate.
persimmion ranks pretty high too, more for asthetics than anything. i think i have 13 different woods so far. but osage is still #1.- Ryan
-
I personally like hickory And dogwood. They seem to be very forgiving for a beginner. But thats from a very limited exposure to diff. woods as far as for bows. I also like ash.
-
Favorites (in order):
1. Red Mulberry. It's like ash on steroids and smells fantastic when heat treating. The yellow color is great too. Working with mulberry always brings me to my "happy place".
2. Osage, Elm
3. Juniper
4. Ash, Hickory
5. Hophornbeam, Ipe
-
My favorites are either Pacific yew...or IPE...both of which are readily available to me, what with a hardware store and a yew grove nearby. I have to say that I've never used osage before, what with me living in the PNW, and unable to get some locally...(and the shipping rates from the midwest are absolutely prohibitive too...) :-\...anyhow, it just depends what type of bow I'm trying to make...
Derek
-
I've made bows from osage, white ash, hickory, elm, red mulberry, black locust, hop hornbeam, maple, black walnut, probably a couple more. I'm also working on persimmon, cedar, and dogwood at the moment. I like them all, and they'll all make good bows. I do think that osage and locust have a bit of an edge here in the land of constant humidity just because they're oily as hell and don't soak up as much moisture.
-
I'd have to say Osage. Even being the novice I am, I love a challenge and all the Osage I can find around here is a challenge. I also love the color when it ages.
John
-
Osage, yew, hickory & maple... in that order. I've tried plenty of others, but we're talkin' favs.
-
I'm just getting started and have only made 7 bows (2 osage, 3 black locust, one ash, one hickory). I think black locust is my favorite because it seems near impossible to have it fail on the back. I made one quicky hatchet "D" bow from a seasoned BL limb and it has all kinds of grain violations and still draws 28" from a 60" bow with no problems. Locally I find better BL staves than osage, which normally has a lot of twists and "character". My best bet locally with osage is a short bow because usually I can find a stave with about 54-60" of nice grain. My one ash bow took a set despite being long and does not shoot as hard as it should. My new hickory bow seems to be a hum-dinger and I look forward to making more hickory bows. I really want to try dogwood and hornbeam.
-
I just cant think of one in particular :) :)
-
Neither can I ;D..Having one favorite wood is like having just one girflriend.... 8)
-
My favorite wood is whatever I happen to be working on in my shop.
-
My favorite wood is whatever I happen to be working on in my shop.
That would be funny if it wasn't so true. It seems like every new bow is my new favorite and whatever type of wood I'm working with is usually the same. Justin
-
"Neither can I ..Having one favorite wood is like having just one girflriend.... "
My wife has a real problem with it, but that's how I feel too Rich ;D I'm kinda partial to Osage, but I can learn to like other woods ::)
-
Osage and Black Locust for me. I love Osage but Locust is probably my favorite just because it grows like weeds where I live and and I can get all I want. I've not found Osage anywhere nearby. I think Locust makes bows that are just as good as Osage.
Alan
-
being new to this i havent tried many differant woods yet
however i have tried hickory, i find it difficult to work with cause it can be so freaken hard.
boo/ipe combination, thought it was very hard to scrape on ipe but loved the results
finally ive tried osage and gotta say with limited knowledge and experience,so far i really like this the best. the feel,the smell and not all that hard or tuff to scrape on.
but i like working on any wood that i have, especially since i dont hace access to alot of wood,so any stave of wood that i do get is a good piece and my favorite while i'm working it.
-
1 osage2 maulberry3 blk locust ,, but i like em all if iv got em
-
osage, there is no substitute!
-
i love hickory because it is local and forgiving, but i am amazed at what ipe can do with so much less wood. i have to give it to ole hick though.
-
If it Bends ......I like it!!!!!!!!
:D
-
I almost hate to admit it but I guess osage is my favorite with a lot of woods comming in for a close second. Osages tolerance for moisture and how well it responds to dy heat are two of my primary reasons. Steve
-
Yep........it turns to Licorice when you put a Heat Gun to it.....really nice to Bend.....but I sure like Hickory and Elm and Ash....when it comes to not having to chase a Ring!!!!!!!! ::)
-
Black locust, hickory, osage, red oak and white oak are some of my favorites in alphabetical order. :) Jawge
-
I'd have to say free wood is my favorite ;) I have not worked much yet but Da Yooper Maple worked pretty nice for me ;) ;D
-
I got 4 pyracantha billets that I rescued out of my wood pile from a huge bush that I cut out last fall (my hands are still healing from the rescue ;D). They look great and seem to be tough as nails. If they turn out they will be my favorite so far. I haven't seen a pyracantha bow yet either. Otherwise my ipe seems to be nice! I like how thin they turn out! Rich
-
Seems Osage is a favorite. Is it because Osage just has such excellent cast, or is it also an aeshetic thing too? I'm reading Torges book, and he has only the highest praise for Osage above all other woods.
-
I would have to agree with Steve, that there a lot of woods coming in for second, but Osage takes the lead. I would have to say that for me, it's partly that I like to make D-bows, and a hard wood like Hedge allows me to make tham with narrow handles anyway. And it's the easiest really hard wood to get for me.
Sean
-
hickory, ash, black locust,......would enjoy osage but we dont have any around??...snake
-
On the average it would be a toss up between Elm and HHB.
-
Gawd..I wish I could get my Hands on some HHB...I may just have to cut some this Summer when I go Home....and haul it back in my Shelby......My Brother was supposed to cut some for me last Winter....but He ended up having Back Surgery....and never could get to it........ >:(
-
I am a newbie, and I have only used 4-5 different woods, but so far maple is my favorite (though my stanley surform wants to gouge it).
-
I am a newbie, and I have only used 4-5 different woods, but so far maple is my favorite (though my stanley surform wants to gouge it).
Try a Draw Knife ...or my Favorite...a Ferriers Rasp....won't gouge at all with the Rasp.....
-
Ash to work with; osage and mulberry to shoot.
-
Favorite wood? Hard to answer with just one. I like a lot of them for different reasons. The most important thing is to match the proper design to the species of wood. With that aside, some woods that I like:
Osage: high compression and tension strength. VERY durable. Resistant to rot. Beautiful.
Red Mulberry: Osage's cousin. Same benefits, but to a lesser degree. While not as springy or as dense as Osage, it seems to grow straighter and have thicker rings. My workhorse bow is a red mulberry bow.
Pacific Yew: light as a feather, resistant to rot, makes a great bow. Easy to work. Beautiful. Very hard to afford/find quality staves (I have my stash, though). Easily dented, and little sensitive to cold weather.
White Oak: strong in tension. Easy to work. Grows straight. Plentiful. Dense. I see it as hickory without the moisture retention problem. It's becoming my favorite whitewood.