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Author Topic: willow... willow everywhere  (Read 6204 times)

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Offline phyankord

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willow... willow everywhere
« on: August 11, 2016, 02:41:12 pm »
so i just did some work for a nice old lady that i know, and i just noticed that at her place there are willow trees everywhere.

im not sure of the specific species of willow but thats what she said it was and there is tons of it following the creek along her property.

so i was wondering how good you guys think willow is for making bows.



im heading back to her place to help her move more boxes around (she is moving away so time is of the essence in seeing of i can snag some wood from her) wendnsday and ill bring my camera to take a few pictures, but there are at least half a dosen and they are big trees!
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Offline Dictionary

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Re: willow... willow everywhere
« Reply #1 on: August 11, 2016, 02:42:51 pm »
Don't waste your time with it.
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"I started developing an eye for those smooth curves as a young man.  Now that my hair is greying and my middle spreading I make bows instead."

-JW_Halverson

Offline phyankord

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Re: willow... willow everywhere
« Reply #2 on: August 11, 2016, 02:49:12 pm »
is it really that bad?
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: willow... willow everywhere
« Reply #3 on: August 11, 2016, 02:50:34 pm »
 Try some.
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Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.

Offline Spotted Dog

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Re: willow... willow everywhere
« Reply #4 on: August 11, 2016, 02:59:38 pm »
 In one of Jim Hamm's books there are 2 of willow.
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Offline DC

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Re: willow... willow everywhere
« Reply #5 on: August 11, 2016, 02:59:53 pm »
You might try some shoots for arrows.
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: willow... willow everywhere
« Reply #6 on: August 11, 2016, 03:02:29 pm »
You can make a bow from nearly anything. How long said bow lasts is what separates bow wood from just wood. Doc Ryan made a polar bow because we all gave him a hard time about it being junk for bow wood. Right on schedule it fretted like mad after a 100 or so shots. But, it did make a 45# bow and I did shoot it a few times.
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Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.

Offline loon

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Re: willow... willow everywhere
« Reply #7 on: August 11, 2016, 03:23:42 pm »
I think Chinese used it for light spine arrows (for light bows) from The Way of Archery ?
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Offline turtle

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Re: willow... willow everywhere
« Reply #8 on: August 11, 2016, 03:45:05 pm »
I remember seeing a willow bow in one of the tbb's. If I remember correctly it was fairly normal length but 4" wide to make a 50' bow. But I have a horizontal growing limb on a tree at my house that I have been considering giving a try. Need to check if willow is more tension or compression strong to see which half of limb to use. So go for it but don't expect stellar performance. I also wouldn't cut a lifetime supply of staves.
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Steve Bennett

Offline Dictionary

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Re: willow... willow everywhere
« Reply #9 on: August 11, 2016, 06:19:25 pm »
There are tons of better bow woods. Willow would be my last resort
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"I started developing an eye for those smooth curves as a young man.  Now that my hair is greying and my middle spreading I make bows instead."

-JW_Halverson

Offline DesertDisciple

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Re: willow... willow everywhere
« Reply #10 on: August 11, 2016, 08:58:49 pm »
This is one of those questions that comes up every now and then. I know because I asked the same question when I got started. Willow is tempting because it is generally rather long and straight. As mentioned it has made bows of larger dimensions but there are other very good uses for it as well.

Build a coracle, build a yurt... make Willow whistles  (wait till spring) and I believe the bark is good for something but I can't for the life of me remember what. 
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Best Regards,

Andrew

Offline Dictionary

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Re: willow... willow everywhere
« Reply #11 on: August 11, 2016, 09:09:13 pm »
Quote from: DesertDisciple on August 11, 2016, 08:58:49 pm
This is one of those questions that comes up every now and then. I know because I asked the same question when I got started. Willow is tempting because it is generally rather long and straight. As mentioned it has made bows of larger dimensions but there are other very good uses for it as well.

Build a coracle, build a yurt... make Willow whistles  (wait till spring) and I believe the bark is good for something but I can't for the life of me remember what.

The inner bark makes decent cordage for friction fires and such. Not sure what else...
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"I started developing an eye for those smooth curves as a young man.  Now that my hair is greying and my middle spreading I make bows instead."

-JW_Halverson

Offline mwosborn

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Re: willow... willow everywhere
« Reply #12 on: August 11, 2016, 10:09:49 pm »
Quote from: DesertDisciple on August 11, 2016, 08:58:49 pm

Build a coracle, build a yurt... make Willow whistles  (wait till spring) and I believe the bark is good for something but I can't for the life of me remember what.

I believe it was used as a pain relief medicine.  :laugh:
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Enjoy the hunt!  Mitch

Offline Swampman

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Re: willow... willow everywhere
« Reply #13 on: August 11, 2016, 10:23:58 pm »
I cut a bunch of willow shoots for arrows because they were so straight and the right size.  I ended up with no arrows from about 6 dozen shoots.  The wood grew straight but I could not keep it straight.  It is not worth the trouble for arrows and I doubt it would make a good bow.
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Offline Chippintuff

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Re: willow... willow everywhere
« Reply #14 on: August 11, 2016, 10:29:58 pm »
A chemical in willow bark is related to aspirin.

WA
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