Author Topic: Favorite bow wood?  (Read 12828 times)

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Offline NTProf

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Favorite bow wood?
« on: December 29, 2010, 11:51:26 pm »
I know a similar question has been asked before, but when it comes right down to it, what is your number one choice of wood for building a bow? Stave or board. Self or backed. And why?  This might also be affected by the tools you have available (e.g. power tools).

Right now mine is a toss up between maple (board or stave) for a self bow and IPE for a backed bow. Both are easily availalble and make very durable, hard shooting bows.

Offline aznboi3644

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Re: Favorite bow wood?
« Reply #1 on: December 29, 2010, 11:57:23 pm »
call me crazy but I have always had a love for oak...I know it takes some set but design it right and I love it.  I use straight grained boards.  I like the underdogs

Offline Bentstick81

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Re: Favorite bow wood?
« Reply #2 on: December 29, 2010, 11:59:01 pm »
 MINE IS HICKORY BOARD BOW, BACKED WITH THE LIGHTER WEIGHT BURLAP GROUND BLIND MATERIAL ;). IT HIDES MY TILLERING FLAWS. ;D  I MIGHT NOT BE A VERY GOOD BOWYER, BUT I LIKE BUILDING AND SHOOTING THEM. 8)

Offline bcbull

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Re: Favorite bow wood?
« Reply #3 on: December 29, 2010, 11:59:35 pm »
yew osage maulberry juniper in that order  cuz the best bows i make are from those woods  and  i pretty much have used those for 28 years now  brock

Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: Favorite bow wood?
« Reply #4 on: December 30, 2010, 12:03:15 am »
Osage, hickory, black locust and the oaks. :) Jawge
Set Happens!
If you ain't breakin' you ain't makin!

Offline Pat B

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Re: Favorite bow wood?
« Reply #5 on: December 30, 2010, 12:05:25 am »
O.S.A.G.E!  :D  I love osage. I like yew, mulberry, hickory, ipe, HHB, white oak, red oak and I'm sure there are others but I LOVE osage! ;D   Osage takes up where my tillering lets off!  ::)

In that order, George?  :o
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline straightarrow

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Re: Favorite bow wood?
« Reply #6 on: December 30, 2010, 12:17:36 am »
Mine is HHB because i have access to loads of it. If i had access to Osage then that would be my favorite for sure. Some other woods I have access to but haven't tried are the oaks, (sugar) hard maple, crab apple, Hickory, mulberry, and dogwood. I have to check on the dogwood because its the state tree and I'm not sure if I am allowed to harvest it even on my own property??? I haven't made any bows from a board.

Jon

Well just looked it up on the net....The dogwood isn't even the state tree....hmmmm i was always told that it was. Oh well the eastern hemlock is... learn something new everyday.
« Last Edit: December 30, 2010, 05:54:50 am by straightarrow »

Offline Justin Snyder

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Re: Favorite bow wood?
« Reply #7 on: December 30, 2010, 12:43:24 am »
Who is setting up the circus tent? Ill pop the popcorn.
Everything happens for a reason, sometimes the reason is you made a bad decision.


SW Utah

Offline sailordad

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Re: Favorite bow wood?
« Reply #8 on: December 30, 2010, 12:46:07 am »
Who is setting up the circus tent? Ill pop the popcorn.


 ;D ;D ;D ;D
i like mine with movie theater butter on it,but not too much that it gets soggy
i always wanted a harley,untill it became the "thing to ride"
i ride because i love to,not to be part of the crowd

Offline osage outlaw

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Re: Favorite bow wood?
« Reply #9 on: December 30, 2010, 01:51:43 am »
Osage.  It's yellow, shoots hard, you can really screw something up and it still makes a solid bow, and I am surrounded by it.  HHB is nice too.  Ask me this again next year.  I have hickory, hackberry, and elm drying and can't wait to try them.
« Last Edit: December 30, 2010, 07:18:06 am by osage outlaw »
I started out with nothin' and I still got most of it left

Offline Little John

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Re: Favorite bow wood?
« Reply #10 on: December 30, 2010, 04:09:11 am »
Osge is still the best.
May all of your moments afield with bow in hand please and satisfy you.            G. Fred Asbell

Offline Holten101

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Re: Favorite bow wood?
« Reply #11 on: December 30, 2010, 05:15:14 am »
When considering availability, workability, drying time, check risk....hell, when considering everything, nothing beats Wych Elm to me..NOTHING:-)

Cheers

Offline Dean Marlow

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Re: Favorite bow wood?
« Reply #12 on: December 30, 2010, 08:47:59 am »
Osage - Yew - HHB - Mulberry - Hickory. Osage is tough and will allow you to make a few mistakes and still have a nice shooting bow.

youngbowyer

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Re: Favorite bow wood?
« Reply #13 on: December 30, 2010, 08:59:14 am »
Osage!

Offline Ryano

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Re: Favorite bow wood?
« Reply #14 on: December 30, 2010, 10:10:42 am »
For self bows osage is still better..... but for laminated bows I have come to love ipe.
Its November, I'm gone hunt'in.......
Osage is still better.....