The Hickories

[wvarcher]

I've never used anything other than Pignut and Shagbark Hickory. The Pignut seems to take less set than the shagbark.  Although, the shagbark seems to be harder and tougher than the pignut.  Am i wrong in assuming Pignut H. is the best of the hickories, even Pecan?  That's what i have always heard.   

[osage outlaw]

TTT.  I would like to hear some opinions on this.

[sailordad]

to me hick is hick 
if its well seasoned and well tillered
damn good weapon 

[bcbull]

I AGREE TIM BUT I PREFER PIG NUT  HELL OF A LOT EASIER FOR ME TO WORK WITH GETTIN BARK OFF SAGE BARK  IS A PAIN IN BUTT NEED DYNIMITE  LOL BROCK

[osage outlaw]

I got a stash of shagbark drying.  Can't wait to get started on it.  I sketched out a native american style shortbow that I want to build. 

Is hickory better in tension or compression?

[gmc]

Pignut carries a little higher density than the others, or at least that's what you read.

[wvarcher]

to me hick is hick 
if its well seasoned and well tillered
damn good weapon 

  What kinds of Hickory have you used?

[Hillbilly]

Pignut, red hickory,  and mockernut seem to be the best of the hickories around here. Not a lot of difference between them. There is a bit of a difference between these denser hickories and the lighter ones like sand hickory, bitternut, and pecan, but they'll all make a good bow.

[ken75]

for what its worth from a hobby builder i like pignut best . its given me the best results and what i look for when i cut a tree. the rest of the hickories ive used were when the creek washed them out and they fell.(and yes i got to them immediately)just my humble opinion

osage outlaw you will hear that hickory is bad in compression and that is true to the extint that it will not match the tension capabilities  , however  when the two are equalled then you have the potential for one of the toughest drag anywhere ,do anything ,workhorse of a bow
 once again my opinion based on what ive seen

[wvarcher]

I got a stash of shagbark drying.  Can't wait to get started on it.  I sketched out a native american style shortbow that I want to build. 

Is hickory better in tension or compression?

    I am pretty sure all the hickories are much stronger in tension than compresion.  I plan to trap the back of all the hickory bows i make.  

[sailordad]

to me hick is hick 
if its well seasoned and well tillered
damn good weapon 

  What kinds of Hickory have you used?

ive used (that i know of ) shag bark,pignut,pecan and what ever the lumber mill sells as boards 

all i know is that if its seasoned well it all has made great bows
only time they were bad is when i f'd them up with bad tillering,same with the set
if i tiller them right set is minimal,if i tiller them poor then its a bit more than acceptable 

[Hrothgar]

Any hickory is going to make a good bow. I think I read in a booklet by the Missouri Dept. of Consevation that shagbark hickory might be the strongest. The bitternut and pignut hickories are preferred by BBQ affectionados. From what little I've seen of pecan wood suggests that its popularity might result from fewer knots and imperfections throughout the wood.

[osage outlaw]

I am planning on sinew backing the short bow.  I was aiming for somewhere around 54-58" long bend in the handle bow.

[crooketarrow]

   Hickorys my favoret bow wood. Pignuts a little harder wood. But as far as one being better. Out of 20 plus bows I really can tell the difference.
  Keep the belly simi flat keep the moisture out of it while building your bow,to you get it sealed. I can  keep it to no to and inch of string follow.Depending on the stave. Although I build mainly O'SAGE theres just always been something about hickory to me.

[wvarcher]

There is a lot of good people willing to share their knowledge on here.  Thanks