« previous next »
Pages: [1]

Author Topic: Is alder a good bow wood?  (Read 14242 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Mohammad Javad Shoaee

  • Member
  • Posts: 16
Is alder a good bow wood?
« on: February 18, 2008, 03:31:29 pm »
Hello everyone

I wanted to know is alder a good wood for making bow?

M.J.Shoaee
Logged

Offline snedeker

  • Member
  • Posts: 905
Re: Is alder a good bow wood?
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2008, 03:51:19 pm »
Hi.  Alder is not so great.

Dave
Logged

jamie

  • Guest
Re: Is alder a good bow wood?
« Reply #2 on: February 18, 2008, 04:02:12 pm »
makes a decent arrow though
Logged

SimonUK

  • Guest
Re: Is alder a good bow wood?
« Reply #3 on: February 18, 2008, 05:55:53 pm »
Yes I've heard it's not good for bows.  Pity - it's so straight.
Logged

Offline Marc St Louis

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 7,870
  • Keep it flexible
    • Marc's Bows and Arrows
Re: Is alder a good bow wood?
« Reply #4 on: February 18, 2008, 06:14:23 pm »
Rod Parsons posted pictures of an Alder bow made by someone near him many years ago, he is in England. The bow was made from a small diameter tree. It didn't look to shabby to me
Logged
Home of heat-treating, Corbeil, On.  Canada

Marc@Ironwoodbowyer.com

Offline bootboy

  • Member
  • Posts: 441
    • vinland longbows
Re: Is alder a good bow wood?
« Reply #5 on: February 19, 2008, 12:51:52 am »
a Finnish native makes almost his bows from alder.
Logged
knapp 'um if you got 'um

Rich Saffold

  • Guest
Re: Is alder a good bow wood?
« Reply #6 on: February 19, 2008, 01:19:33 am »
The Alder, and Sycamores I have used were very close in density. If you can make a fast 6' 50# low mass selfbow.  You will have fun with Alder.   ;)

Rich
Logged

Offline Mohammad Javad Shoaee

  • Member
  • Posts: 16
Re: Is alder a good bow wood?
« Reply #7 on: February 19, 2008, 10:02:14 am »
Hello

Thank you everyone for your guides.

M.J.Sh
Logged

Offline OldBow

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,216
  • I'm just an old retired biology teacher.
Re: Is alder a good bow wood?
« Reply #8 on: February 19, 2008, 11:57:47 am »
Our Montana alder is Alnus sinnuata.
It is way too soft to use for bows.  Jamie is right. Use it for arrows.
Logged
When you're retired, every day is Saturday

Offline D. Tiller

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,507
  • Go ahead! Bend that stick! Make my day!!!
    • Whidbey Island Soap Co.
Re: Is alder a good bow wood?
« Reply #9 on: February 19, 2008, 07:12:08 pm »
How about Alder from the Pacific Northwest? How about if you sinew back it. I have heard that alder is great in compresion but lowsy in tension.

David T
Logged
“People are less likely to shoot at you if you smile at them” - Mad Jack Churchill

330bull

  • Guest
Re: Is alder a good bow wood?
« Reply #10 on: February 19, 2008, 09:26:28 pm »
If you live in the PNW, I would suggest Vine Maple over Alder any day.  I will never attempt an alder bow with so many better woods available.

My 2 cents.   :)

Joe
Logged
Pages: [1]
« previous next »