English ash 140lb at 32" - update: short video of it being shot

[WillS]

77" long, 40mm x 30mm in the handle.  Cow horn side nocks.  No heat treating on the belly, or trapping on the back and an oval cross section, and no chrysals which is always nice at this weight!  Once the bow was finished and sanded I gently toasted the belly before applying a natural beeswax finish, and I think it's popped the weight up by about 5 or 10lb but won't know until I measure it again once it's been shot for distance.

It took maybe 1" of set - the lower limb was already slightly deflexed giving an overall string follow of about 1.5 - 2".  Considering the weight and the recent weather I'm quite pleased with that. 

No full draw pic (I know, I know!) - I don't like holding them for photos in the first place as I don't have a camera setup, but especially not ash.  I was hoping to get a pic of Joe shooting it today, but wasn't able to make it, so I'll hopefully add a photo or video of that when I get the chance.

[Del the cat]

Nice one, English Ash?
Del

[WillS]

Yep!

To be honest, normally I wouldn't even bother trying to push ash this heavy - I know it can be done, but I've always believed it needs an exceptional piece of wood.  This stave was stored outside for 2 years with no sealing of the ends, and has some wood worm through the back.  It was more an experiment than anything, so I was pleasantly surprised!

[Del the cat]

Nice nocks, got the look of the Mary Rose find 
Del

[benbow]

Wow had no idea this could be done. nicely done. i will have to give it a try only made one bow worthy of war bow status due to the lack of yew in my life ash on the other hand, cant move for ash.

[wizardgoat]

Sweet! Need that FD though

[WillS]

It's coming!  I need to find somebody who can draw it properly and comfortably. 

[WillS]

Wow had no idea this could be done. nicely done. i will have to give it a try only made one bow worthy of war bow status due to the lack of yew in my life ash on the other hand, cant move for ash.

Plenty of other woods can be pushed this far, and then some!  Holly, plum, laburnum, hazel, elm, apple... I've seen all of those go to 140, 160lb etc.  I've also seen them out-perform Yew bows of the same weight

[benbow]

Apple, Plum two woods i have yet to try! Have been working down the sap wood on a near flawless 6 foot piece of laburnum with a 3inch reflex.  I say near flawless as there is a huge side branch knot in the handle, would you recon this could make a rare stave into poisonous firewood at upwards of 100#, not to mention the reflex?

[WillS]

No idea, having never worked with it!  The closest I've been to a big laburnum bow was one that Joe Gibbs made at around 175lb I think.  Absolute monster at that weight, with a surprisingly deep section, quite unlike ash.

[Lucasade]

I've got an eight foot laburnum log in my shed cut last year - half is earmarked for a bow for the missus but I think I'll have a play with the other half.

Incidentally I haven't sealed the ends or anything, just split it a couple of weeks after it was cut. No checks or other silliness. Just saying... 

[WillS]

Yeah I don't muck about with all that sealing rubbish either

As long as it's got plenty of length you'll be fine normally, unless you're very unlucky.  Even then, longitudinal cracks can just be filled with glue, clamped shut and forgotten about.

[benbow]

i see now this ash bows section is pretty wide and shallow that makes sense! I'm with you guys on the not sealing the ends its just so wet in Devon nothing drys out fast to cause any checks to run deep. sometimes though i will cut the stave a bit longer above a side branch, i feel like the knot will hold the wood bellow together then stand it to season with this end up.

[WillS]

Yeah we're pretty much under water here in Dorset as well.  Slow seasoning for heavy bows is never a bad thing!

[meanewood]

Nice bow Will

I'm with you guys about not sealing ends and have never had a problem, even here in Australia where things dry quickly!