Alder for bows?

[snag]

I was out trying to rattle in a blacktail buck this morning and where I was there is a lot of 4" alder trees. They are straight with very little lower limbs. I kept thinking about bow material! I know it is fairly hard, but light weight wood. Has anyone made a selfbow out alder? Not interested in a laminated bow.

[Cacatch]

I've never heard of anyone making an alder bow. I wouldnt think it would be very good, but I don't know anything about alder wood. If you say it's hard and light, then it might be doable, and might make you a wide, flat-limbed bow.

CP

[Kent D.]

I have seen a polar and an alder bow.  Both were ridiculusly long and extra wide.  They were made due to a bet.  I would not think Alder would be an normal/worthy  wood to pursue, but who knows?

[El Destructo]

Dana Montgomery made one...and it worked for a while...soft wood with not much compressional strength...

[snag]

Well I'll cross that one off the list. Thanks.

[ErictheViking]

I see from your profile you live in Oregon. An extremely talented bowyer named Gordon on here hails from there as well. He has made them from Vine Maple, Hazel (both of which grow everywhere on the NW coast) as well as cascara(buckthorn) It looks just like alder but the leaves are enlongated and shiny when compared to alder. At this time when most alders have lost all their leaves cascara will still have theirs. Its also the tree whose bark is used for a laxative. Their usually alot of blacklocust around as well. And of course Yew if you can find any.  Eric

[snag]

I know where there is yew. But it takes quiet a long hike to reach it. When I was hunting this weekend I kept seeing all these beautifully straight alders and it just got me thinking.  I am in the process of making a couple of hazelnut bows and have 4 more staves seasoning.  Seems like since I have started this that I zero in on trees around me and wonder if they would make a bow! haha

[HoBow]

Most of us do snag... its all part of the sickness

[Keenan]

 Hi Snag, I've got some alder that is cured because of the same thoughts.  I guess I have a mindset similar to John Strunk that there are allot of good bow woodthat people haven't tried.  I'll do some testing on some that are cured out and see what it dose.  I head over the mountain to your area once in a while and always concentrate more on the Vine maple and cascara. Service berry is another that is becoming a favorite. All ofcorase take second seat to yew.

[snag]

Hi Keenan, I'm going to have to get up in the Cascades for some vine maple hunting. For some reason I just think with sinew backing alder would make a good bow. It is flexible when young. 

[Gordon]

Most white woods are much stronger in tension than compression. If that is the case for alder you would be better off making the limbs wider and longer than backing it with sinew.

[El Destructo]

My thoughts also Gordon....

[snag]

Thanks Gordon. How about Oregon Ash? I believe I have identified another tree as Oregon Ash.