Sourwood Bow???

[huntersteve]

I was just wondering if anyone has used sourwood as a bow wood? I tried doing a search but didn't find any
previous threads on this....I cut down a fairly straight sourwood tree a couple months ago...split it and have been drying it out for awhile now....yesterday I removed the bark....I'm sure I'll have to put a backing of some sort on this bow...I would like to end up at about 60-62" and 40-50 lbs......anyone have any advice or suggestions? thanks....steve

[Hillbilly]

I remember seeing a sourwood bow on the old PA board, seems like the guy who made it was happy with it. I don't see why it would need backing, sourwood is pretty strong stuff. I would make a standard design flatbow for medium-weight hardwoods. If you have a 28" draw, I would probably go 66" ntn, 1 3/4" -2" wide fades to midlimb tapering to 1/2" nocks. You could also try a 60"-62" bend-through-the handle Eastern Woodlands-style flatbow about 1 1/4" wide. It should work with either design. I have a sourwood stave kicking around somewhere that Pat B gave me a couple years ago, but haven't tried making anything out of it yet.

[huntersteve]

Thanks Hillbilly....this will be my first bow from a stave...I've only done a couple of board bows before now....the sourwood stave that I'm going to use is only about 62" long....are there any build alongs you know of that I can follow for the width's and thickness's for the type of bows that you mentioned?? thanks for any help...steve

[white wood]

steve do you have any of the bowyers bibles? i believe the first one has a bunch of info on a bend through the handle bow. ive built a couple bows that bent a little in the handle and they are nice shooters. if built right you can get minimal hand shock and a good shooting bow. ive heard patb (i think its patb) talk about sourwood SHAFTS and how hard and strong they are so i bet it would make a great bow. good luck, whitewood

[huntersteve]

thanks White Wood....no I don't have any of the Bowyers Bibles yet....maybe I can order one soon...I'm also in the process of making some sourwood shoot arrows right now...I'll try to post some picks soon...thanks for the help...steve

[Pat B]

Steve, I have a stave of sourwood but never made a bow from it. As Steve said, someone on PA did make a bow a few years ago and if I remember correctly, it came out good.
Sourwood shoot arrows are my favorite. They are very tough and make a heavy hunting arrow.    Pat     Pat

[huntersteve]

Pat...do you think I will need to put a backing on a sourwood bow?? If so what would be best to use....steve

[Pat B]

I'd try it without first. Use whats under the bark for the back.    Pat

[Kegan]

I made a sourwood bow when I first got into archery. It was naturally deflexxed, had way heavy tips, way over spined arrows, and poor tillering, and still was a shooter. I haven't gotten around to using it now that I actually know how to make a bow, but I wouldn't hesitate. Actually, there is a tree out front... .

And sourwood shoots make the best arrows I have ever tried . I've put sourwood blunt arrows through boards before. Tough, heavy, and really great flyers .