HHB instead of Hickory

[osage outlaw]

A former boss of mine invited me to come and cut down a hickory tree that lost its top in a storm.  When we got to the tree, it was next to his power lines.  I am not very experienced in cutting trees and didn't feel comfortable with the situation.  He promised to get a relative to take it down for me sometime soon.  I guess he didn't want me to leave empty handed, so he went into his garage and came out with a HHB log.  He said that it had been there 8 or 9 years.  I took it home and split it in half.  It is 75" long and 5" wide.  It split even down the middle.  I would like to make two bows, one for me and one for him.  I was wanting to have a stiff handle on each and aim for 50# on one and 60# on the other, both 27" draw length.  Does anyone have any suggestions for length and limb width?  Can I remove the outer bark and use that as the back of the bow?  I really like the flipped tips on Josh's HHB bow.

[Dean Marlow]

Oh you lucky guy. Those are beautiful HHB staves. Really straight for HHB. My last one was 66" long and ran 1-5/8" wide to mid limb then tapered down to 7/16" wide at the tips. HHB is a top whitewood. And yes take a dull drawknife and slowly take the bark off and use that right under the bark for your back. I would like to try for an Elb one of these days out of a good HHB stave. Dean

[Josh]

Man those staves look like they will both make excellent bows!  ...those demensions that Dean mentioned are perfect.  Good luck on your bows!   

[George Tsoukalas]

Those are nice looking staves. Have fun. Jawge

[aznboi3644]

what about halving those again...looks like enough wood.

[Pat B]

My thoughts too aznboi! I would split each half in half. Four staves of well seasoned HHB are better than two.

[osage outlaw]

Do you really think that there is enough wood to split them again?  4 staves would be better than 2, as long as they are big enough.  Should I try to split them again, or should I try to cut them in half with a circular saw?   Thanks for the advice.

[Pat B]

If it split straight the first time it should split straight again. Start your split in the center of the stave and work out towards each end. That way usually splits straighter with less chance of run offs. Try one and make a bow from one of those splits. If that doesn't work for you make a bow from the original split.

[sailordad]

nice looking staves
i have some hhb staves that look exactly like them
wait a minute,you didnt hit my wood stash while ive been on vacation have ya?   lol

[osage outlaw]

Dang!  Busted

[Dean Marlow]

Osage go ahead and take the bark off of the halves and if the grain underneath looks straight I believe I would just take the saw to them and cut them down the middle. Plenty of wood there if the log is 5" across. Dean

[Lombard]

I must be greedy, because I see four bows in that wood.

[mullet]

 There is four bows easy in that piece of wood. Look at the short HHB bow I posted, "little bit". It is just over an inch wide.