Author Topic: low elevation mulberry in temperate climate any good?  (Read 2521 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Dante_F

  • Member
  • Posts: 179
low elevation mulberry in temperate climate any good?
« on: February 19, 2019, 12:14:34 pm »
So i have a pretty big mullberry (i think it red mulberry) in my back yard and my dad doesn't seem to like it much so i was wonder wood low elevation pnw grown mulberry be any good if it probably not as dense as the ones in the east US

Offline peacefullymadewarbows

  • Member
  • Posts: 151
Re: low elevation mulberry in temperate climate any good?
« Reply #1 on: February 19, 2019, 01:23:23 pm »
Mulberry is a deciduous ring porous wood much like osage. Red mulberry makes great bows. Low elevation would signal to me closer to the water table which means a healthier tree in theory. A healthier tree tends to lay down thicker rings which is favorable in ring porous woods. So I'd say it is definitely worth a shot. Even middle quality mulberry probably is still a very good bow wood.

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,633
Re: low elevation mulberry in temperate climate any good?
« Reply #2 on: February 19, 2019, 02:20:38 pm »
Mulberry is great bow wood, even low elevation. Most Mulberry has pretty thick growth rings generally. Even the sapwood of mulberry will make a good bow.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Dante_F

  • Member
  • Posts: 179
Re: low elevation mulberry in temperate climate any good?
« Reply #3 on: February 19, 2019, 04:10:15 pm »
ill see if i can get a few branches >:D :BB

Offline upstatenybowyer

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,700
Re: low elevation mulberry in temperate climate any good?
« Reply #4 on: February 19, 2019, 04:36:35 pm »
I live in a low elevation area in a temperate climate and I love mulberry!  )W(  )P(
"Even as the archer loves the arrow that flies, so too he loves the bow that remains constant in his hands."

Nigerian Proverb

Limbit

  • Guest
Re: low elevation mulberry in temperate climate any good?
« Reply #5 on: February 19, 2019, 04:48:13 pm »
Just remember, if you are cutting a branch, you need to take wood from the top or the bottom, not the side. The way the wood is oriented in a branch is different from the body.

Offline Dante_F

  • Member
  • Posts: 179
Re: low elevation mulberry in temperate climate any good?
« Reply #6 on: February 19, 2019, 07:25:54 pm »
sounds good ill definitely try it now :BB ya think it make a bendy handle bow?
« Last Edit: February 19, 2019, 07:53:27 pm by DELTA_WOLF »

Offline Badger

  • Member
  • Posts: 8,124
Re: low elevation mulberry in temperate climate any good?
« Reply #7 on: February 19, 2019, 08:48:33 pm »
Not as dense as Osage so you will want to go a bit wider, great wood.

Offline Dante_F

  • Member
  • Posts: 179
Re: low elevation mulberry in temperate climate any good?
« Reply #8 on: February 19, 2019, 08:56:32 pm »
thanks that seems to be a smart idea.

Offline leonwood

  • Member
  • Posts: 762
    • Leonwood Bows
Re: low elevation mulberry in temperate climate any good?
« Reply #9 on: February 20, 2019, 04:24:26 am »
I live below sea level if that is low enough... Made a few mulberry bows from local grown trees and they where all great shooters. One of my favourite bow woods for sure!

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,633
Re: low elevation mulberry in temperate climate any good?
« Reply #10 on: February 20, 2019, 05:57:47 am »
A mulberry bow should be about 10% bigger than osage, width and length.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Dante_F

  • Member
  • Posts: 179
Re: low elevation mulberry in temperate climate any good?
« Reply #11 on: February 20, 2019, 08:25:46 am »
im about 300 ft up so that is good

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,633
Re: low elevation mulberry in temperate climate any good?
« Reply #12 on: February 20, 2019, 09:14:38 am »
I've used mulberry from Coastal GA and SC and from the mountains here in Western NC. Never found a difference.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Dante_F

  • Member
  • Posts: 179
Re: low elevation mulberry in temperate climate any good?
« Reply #13 on: February 20, 2019, 01:04:41 pm »
ok so, could i just strip the bark and treat it like a white wood or use heartwood and should i seal the ends

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,633
Re: low elevation mulberry in temperate climate any good?
« Reply #14 on: February 20, 2019, 02:47:10 pm »
Always seal the ends and the back if you remove the bark.  For your first couple of mulberry bows use the heartwood. You chase a ring just like with osage. Once you get familiar making bows and used to working mulberry you can experiment.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC