im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?

[FlaCubanRedneck]

Hey yall, i just want to say hi. im looking to write a book on different types of bow woods made from trees felled personally by my primitive peeps.  I was told not all the woods in the TTBB are really great bow woods. what i want to know is, personally, what woods have YOU used that you swear by, and if you can post some pictures of your favorite w stats... no limit..!!!

if i pick your bow picture for the book, ill be sending you a form in the mail to sign stating you give rights to publish, and you will receive a free copy in the mail when its done.

thanks for your support, now lets get er done...!!! 

[sadiejane]

have only made bows from osage so i have no experience for comparison
but i did find this list interesting so will pass along
http://forum.gon.com/showthread.php?t=481711

[PeteC]

I've tried a lot of bow woods,but now I pretty well stick to,Osage,EasternHophornbeam,the dense red elms,preferably Slippery elm,and the hickories. JMHO  God bless

[FlaCubanRedneck]

thats awesome guys..!! i appreciate the help.. keep em coming..!!

[osage outlaw]

Osage and Hophornbeam are my two favorites.  Osage is #1 

Here is my best osage bow.  61" long, 55#@26"  You can use any pics you want.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,26012.0.html


I have some pics of a hhb bow if you want.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Osage. It should be a short book!

[hillbilly61]

 So far I've used (in order of preference)  1. Osage 2. IPE 3. Hickory 4. Red Elm Then it's what ever jumps out at me next. White Oak, Walnut, Ash...ect.
Here are some pics with braced and full draw profiles. Good luck with the book.

[Lee Slikkers]

Hillbilly61, did you back the Ipe or not?  Trying to see it clearly in the pics...I got a stick of it and trying to decide what to do with it.  Thanks.

[hillbilly61]

Lee..Yes i'ts backed with Bamboo. Nice wood to work with. For the density, it scrapes very good. Try this pic I think it will show better

[dwardo]

Birch (ok) wych elm (umlus glabra) great bow wood, yew of cource, ash (fraxinus excelciour) great bow wood, Hazel great bow wood, even goat willow ok bow wood. If u need pics i can dog some out.

[Josh]

After my last bow, I am really liking walnut!!  I have cut and used osage, elm, oak, hickory, and hophornbeam with success as well.  As for buying boards, I have used purpleheart, yellowheart, hickory, oak, and ipe with pretty good success as well.  Here's my walnut bow.

[Lee Slikkers]

Thanks Hillbilly!

[blackhawk]

I think Dean Torges already wrote that book .  In order of preference  OSAGE...........................................................................................tied for 2nd is hickory and both hornbeam species in america.
then its all about the same or less after that to me but I have not used yew yet.

[JackCrafty]

Of all the wood I've harvested myself, juniper is my favorite bow wood, by far.  Of all the wood types I've used, I didn't like cedar elm, cottonwood, cumaru, birch, or ash.  My favorite overall bow wood is ipe.

[ken75]

i realize im going to be the black sheep of the PA family but ... hickory #1 , crepe myrtle #2 , black walnut #3 , red elm #4,hornbeam # 5 ,oaks with white being first then red, ipe #7 ,sycamore #8. this is my list in order of favorites for Selfbows .backing combos can achive great results but our wood should be judged standing alone