first bow which of these is best???

[volarion]

since I going to be making my fist bow I wanted to ask which of the woods around my home work best for what Im doing (pyramid bow) I live on the VA-NC border almost, and I have hickory of all kinds in the forest around my house some walnut, black walnut, maple, pine and poplar which wood or combination of woods woould be best as stave for a good bow???  also where can I find an arrow shaping guide for making shafts mine always seem more square than round and I dont have a lave

[youngbowyer33]

Hickory is good, walnut and black walnut are alright, and maple is good as well. Don't bother with poplar or pine.

[Postman]

You probably have some black locust also. I haven't tried it yet but many on here have used it

[George Tsoukalas]

Hickory is great stuff. jawge

[PeteC]

Hickory is great bow wood.In your area you should also have plenty of elms and eastern hophornbeam .Check them out too. God Bless

[volarion]

thank you all

[ken75]

vol. check Lee Valley Tools on the internet they have a 3/8th veritas dowel maker that you can make shafts with . bout a 30 dollar investment shippin and all

[medicinewheel]

You probably have some black locust also. I haven't tried it yet but many on here have used it

I wouldn't recommend BL for the beginning bowyer due to it's tendency to fret so easily; I'd recommend hickory. My first two where Hickory board bows...

[Pappy]

Hickory is hard to beat,just keep it in a dry place as you are working on it. 
   Pappy

[Bogaman]

Hickory would be hard to beat for a first time bow. If your doing this with some help or guidance any of the more popular woods will do. SW

[Mark Anderson]

Another vote here for hickory! Can't go too wrong with that stuff.
Mark

[StevenT]

Hey Volarion, I live in Great Bridge (Chesapeake). Just wondering what part of the VA-NC boarder you live on?

[volarion]

lunenburg county beside the nottaway river

[sailordad]

i say hickory

however as a foot note: black locust does fret easy for a newbie. but it will make you learn to tiller proper too.
                                   with black locust,proper tillering is the key to no fretting and a wonderfull bow 
                                   if ya got access to it,cut it,split it,dry it,use it,send one stave to me 

[volarion]

lol I would love too, I will probably let the entire thing set and only work on eekends with it anyway (work all day) so curing probably wont be a problem now I just have to find some of these trees (have a hickoy picked out already)