Opinions on Bow Wood

[Bryce]

ERC(juniper) is an excellent bow wood. I have a stave I'm saving for a special occasion. Western red cedar is good for arras, but as a bow wood, if it is at all possible would have to come from an old growth branch and REQUIRE sinew.

[bow101]

I'm not sure I'm remembering the right thread, but didn't you ask about Western red cedar? The bows you see built are Eastern red cedar. Eastern red cedar is a juniper and a much different wood than Western red cedar

         This is a thread I posted awhile back about cedar bows, I have seen others built from REd Cedar............ http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,35837.0.html

[toomanyknots]

With what I've worked with in order best to worse...osage, hophornbeam, hickory, dogwood, hackberry. I've also heard very good comments on winged elm.

The first time I cut hophorn beam, I thought it was elm, partly because I had never worked elm either, and didn't know how to identify either very well. After working it, I was like "Man, this is some good elm!", 

[Zion]

10. SERVICEBERRY!!!  hell yeah!!

[smoky#1]

I read on a websearch that you could use any hardwood for making bows.

[Brock]

not completed my first bow yet (hickory) but have shot a few different bows of various woods....so far, all things being equal as far as craftsmanhip, design for wood type to get most out of it, etc....I like:

- hickory...all around tough wood and if built correctly and sealed against moisture is almost bullet proof
- osage...love the tiny tips that are possible and all around great bow material...but harder to work and easier to make a fatal mistake than hickory I believe
- vine maple...john strunk made one for me out of a piece that was sent to me by a person from Oregon back in 2001....it is a very durable wood and has good cast.  he told me it was one of his favorite all around woods for a hunting bow and I see why.  Not sure how it is to work though as it can be very snaky I am told.

once I get a few under my belt I would like to try juniper/cedar, elm, pecan and red oak....

[vinemaplebows]

Vine maple
Ipe
osage
hickory
cascara
hazlenut
pacific dogwood
yew
rock maple
ash

[Bryce]

Brian I would have never guessed to see yew and p.dogwood so far down your list!

[fishfinder401]

send over a couple thousand osage fruits and i will!

i second that........ they will be all over rhode island if i have any say in it

[chamookman]

I stayed out of the other thread, but I'll jump in on this one. First Osage, then Osage - Osage - Osage and finnaly Osage. Nuff said  . Bob.

[Badly Bent]

My list includes ten of the woods I've made bows from. Haven't used yew so no opinion on it and I'm trying to finish my first from buckthorn and it would rate pretty high on the list I think, let you know when I'm done with that one.
1) Osage
2} Black Locust
3) White oak
4) Elm
5) Hickory
6) Hackberry
7) Black Walnut
Mulberry
9) Ash
10) American Hornbeam

[turtle]

Most of the bows i have made have been osage mostly because its easy to get in my area. Most people consider it to be invasive trash. But if each of you will send me a stave of each wood on your list i will get back to you in about 10 years.



     I should say though that my favorite bow i ever made was from flowering dogwood.

[vinemaplebows]

Bryce,

                      I rated the woods in order of preference then durability. Yew is a great wood...but not durable in all regions.