European silver birch?

[backgardenbowyer]

Anyone ever used European silver birch (Betula pendula )?  I know that US bowyers often use yellow birch and other American species, but I wondered if our local stuff was any good?

The answer when someone askes about a bow wood is usually "try it and see" - but I thought I'd ask if anyone else has tried it first!!!!

Thanks

Stan

[Del the cat]

I've not used it for a bow, but I made a little pot out of a slice of it, it worked pretty much like Hazel, e.g nice to work, very little visible grain.
So I'd guess make it wide and flat, maybe chop out a quick stick bow or minature to get a feel for it?
I'll be interested to know how it turns out if you try it.
Del

[Boofus]

I'd be interested too... there's a TON of it right behind my house!

[Pat B]

I've used sweet birch with OK results but nothing special. It has been a long time since I used it though. I believe the yellow birch is the stronger of the birches.

[dwardo]

I have used silver birch quite a while back, kept it nice and wide for most of the limb, also used a sapling about first thick, no knots
It was a lovely bow but is now a wall hanger. I would say its a wall hanger only due to a rubbish tiller and letting somone lend it who decided to increase the brace heigh to match his glass bow.

If you want ill find a picture.

[Tom Leemans]

O.K. but carefully peel the bark in big sheets if it's 1/8"+ thick, and send it to me so I can build a canoe!

[dragonman]

Never made a bow out of it but made other things out of it and it is a good quality, fairly hard wood, so should make a decent bow, Its is always so knotty thats what puts me off using it, I dont like knots.