Cherry

[bow101]

Cut some Bitter cherry today across the street, convenient as "smuck",  Very similiar to choke cherry but tree grows much larger.  Anyone makes bows from it..?

Thx.....101 0ver and out..!

[Tzuridis]

I tried to make a bow with cherry but it broke when I was cutting it. I read somewhere on here that  cherry has like a .50 to weight and strength ratio. Or something like that, so Im guessing from what I read its decent or maybe almost good? Im not sure though because Im a noobie bow maker too.

[bow101]

I tried to make a bow with cherry but it broke when I was cutting it. I read somewhere on here that  cherry has like a .50 to weight and strength ratio. Or something like that, so Im guessing from what I read its decent or maybe almost good? Im not sure though because Im a noobie bow maker too.

Depends on the type. I know the stuff I buy at the lumber store is softer than puffs..!

[crooketarrow]

  I've made 2 choke cherry bows a Time back both backed. One sinew 62" 57# @26" and one raw hide 64" 50# @ 28". The sinewed I gave to a friend the raw hide I sold. Both were ok they never came back.

[vinemaplebows]

Bitter cherry is brittle cherry, BUT made in a prymid style bow about 67-70 long you can get a shooter. I would back it with something light.... paper, clothe...ect.

VMB

[Slackbunny]

Cherry can make a sweet bow, but you have to treat it right. My favorite bow is cherry and its seen a lot of arrows through it. Cherry should really have a backing though.

[blackhawk]

Cherry is the bomb....literally!!! 

[vinemaplebows]

Eastern cherry is very different than western bitter cherry.

[dmenzies1950]

I've made three wild cherry bows. Two blew up right away, and the other one I made for my grandson; 10# at 13" and I backed that one in rawhide! It still shoots fine! It's probably just me but I just can't make a decent bow out of the stuff! It's also true what Vinemaplebows says, the eastern stuff is probably lots different the what we have out West. Anyway, I decided long ago that we have so much good wood here in Washington State that I can avoid the frustration by using something else.             Dale

[ionicmuffin]

you live in washington too?! its true we do have a bunch of amazing bow wood! elm, VM, Black Locust, yew, dogwood, casscara, oceanspray, plumb , ect

[bow101]

I probably won't build a bow from cherry from what I read.   

[Slackbunny]

Now I don't know what exactly bitter cherry looks like, but if its anything like the cherry I know then its pretty wood. I just can't bring myself not to do something with a pretty stave.

[Thesquirrelslinger]

Now I don't know what exactly bitter cherry looks like, but if its anything like the cherry I know then its pretty wood. I just can't bring myself not to do something with a pretty stave.

use it for a core lam in a lam bow.
that way it does not do much. another one- make back and belly lams from bamboo and put a cherry spacer in the middle. pretty dang powerful bows can be made that way.

[vinemaplebows]

Now I don't know what exactly bitter cherry looks like, but if its anything like the cherry I know then its pretty wood. I just can't bring myself not to do something with a pretty stave.

use it for a core lam in a lam bow.
that way it does not do much. another one- make back and belly lams from bamboo and put a cherry spacer in the middle. pretty dang powerful bows can be made that way.

Agree, and a good use for the wood!