Fresh oak and maple staves...

[Cloudfeather]

I cut down some sugar maple and some oak today. The maple is good stuff, though very twisted(will fix with heat gun). The oak split almost perfectly straight, but I'm having a bit of a hard time identifying what kind it is exactly any help would be appreciated...

[Pat B]

It's one of the red oaks. All red oaks have pointed lobes on the leaves and white oaks have rounded lobes.

[Cloudfeather]

Thanks pat. I've got about a dozen premium staves of this, 72" long. Any suggestions on different bow styles?

[Pat B]

66" to 68" long, 1 3/4" to 2" at the fades and out to mid limb with a straight taper to the tips. Leave the tips wide(1/2" to 3/4") until first brace then narrow them to 3/8" after you are sure the string lines up well.

[Swampman]

That sure looks like a nice log.  Red oak is pretty wood.  Should make some nice bows.

[Pat B]

Use the wood right under the bark for the back. I hope you can still peel the bark. 

[Cloudfeather]

Just cut it today. I'll shave the bark tomorrow. Thanks.

[IdahoMatt]

Looks like a great haul sled.

[missilemaster]

Cut it up into boards and make some board bows!

[Cloudfeather]

This was the haul. I'm kind of disappointed in the maple. The bark and everything indicated that the grain would be arrow straight. The staves are all 6ft and some have a twist of almost 90 degrees from one end to the other.

[Cloudfeather]

Pat, did you mean on the oak or the maple?

[Joec123able]

Some beautiful oak staves

[Pat B]

On the oak and maple.   Both are considered whitewood as far as bow building is concerned.

[Cloudfeather]

Thanks, Pat. Did a couple of the oaks and debarked a couple sugar maple saplings I fell. Should turn into some nice character bows. Am I wrong in assuming I can treat sugar maple like vine maple as far as design is concerned?

[Pat B]

I've not used either yet. I have a vine maple stave that vinemaplebows sent me but I ain't got to it yet. 
  Be sure to seal any bare backs and ends.