Shovel handles

[Don Case]

Are shovel handles usable? I think they are ash or hickory. You would probably have to sort through them a bit to get one with straight grain.

[Weylin]

I've seen bow's made from shovel handles before. I'd go for the hickory if you can and like you said, look for perfect grain.

[autologus]

I have made a bow from a wheel barrow handle it was quarter sawn Ash.

Grady

[koan]

Its not really worth the price imo unless you just wanna see if ya can. if you have a Menards close by they carry hickory in store. I buy 1"x 2"x 6' edge grain for $5.99... I will prolly never cut hickory for bows again, lol. The trade bow i gave keenan a couple years ago was a Menards hickory board. It was cut well enuff i chased a ring. ... Brian

[bow101]

You mite be better off going to Windsor Plywood and finding something suitable.

[Don Case]

Good point.

[MountainCoveArcher]

I have made kids bows out of these.  Straight grain wheel barrel handles make a good 40lb bow.  Finding a good one is the hard part.  Followed the growth ring.  Shoots very well. I am sure if you backed it with sinew you could get a 50lb out it.  The wood was Ash.  The length on these handles are 60 inches.

[bushboy]

I love windsor plywood,it's the menards of the north but it's pricey

[tallpine]

+2 on the wheelbarrow handles, I was looking at some at the local hardware store the other day. I found one that was Hickory that had perfect grain orientation that could have actually had a ring chased on it. I have plenty wood so I passed on it but this might be worth looking into for the poor guys who live in bow wood deserts 

[sleek]

Dont ignore the hickory/pecan axe handles. They make great bows. I have made 3 bows of them and plan on many more. You can do a take down or a slice job.

[mikekeswick]

Problem is you are limited by the width and hickory boards are way cheaper for the amount of wood you get and you don't have to bother with a splice - one piece or spliced for no reason....I know what i'd go for!

[sleek]

I agree on the splice or no splice option Mike, because it can be aggrivating to make one. But I would like to know what your hickory cost you in board form. For me it is 50 + for a bow sized board.

[Slackbunny]

I agree on the splice or no splice option Mike, because it can be aggrivating to make one. But I would like to know what your hickory cost you in board form. For me it is 50 + for a bow sized board.

That seems quite high. I bought a huge chunk of hickory that was approximately 8'x6"x2" for like forty bucks a couple years ago. Several potential bows in that one.

[koan]

Sounds like i need to go in biz sellin hickory boards... Wow thats high! If yall got Amish close check them out... I got enuff ash and hickory from them to get 12  2" wide 6' long bow blanks(high quality) for less than $60... You might also be able to order from Menards web sight if ya aint got one close. They carry in store a wide variety of hardwoods... Brian