low elevation mulberry in temperate climate any good?

[Dante_F]

So i have a pretty big mullberry (i think it red mulberry) in my back yard and my dad doesn't seem to like it much so i was wonder wood low elevation pnw grown mulberry be any good if it probably not as dense as the ones in the east US

[peacefullymadewarbows]

Mulberry is a deciduous ring porous wood much like osage. Red mulberry makes great bows. Low elevation would signal to me closer to the water table which means a healthier tree in theory. A healthier tree tends to lay down thicker rings which is favorable in ring porous woods. So I'd say it is definitely worth a shot. Even middle quality mulberry probably is still a very good bow wood.

[Pat B]

Mulberry is great bow wood, even low elevation. Most Mulberry has pretty thick growth rings generally. Even the sapwood of mulberry will make a good bow.

[Dante_F]

ill see if i can get a few branches

[upstatenybowyer]

I live in a low elevation area in a temperate climate and I love mulberry!   

[Limbit]

Just remember, if you are cutting a branch, you need to take wood from the top or the bottom, not the side. The way the wood is oriented in a branch is different from the body.

[Dante_F]

sounds good ill definitely try it now ya think it make a bendy handle bow?

[Badger]

Not as dense as Osage so you will want to go a bit wider, great wood.

[Dante_F]

thanks that seems to be a smart idea.

[leonwood]

I live below sea level if that is low enough... Made a few mulberry bows from local grown trees and they where all great shooters. One of my favourite bow woods for sure!

[Pat B]

A mulberry bow should be about 10% bigger than osage, width and length.

[Dante_F]

im about 300 ft up so that is good

[Pat B]

I've used mulberry from Coastal GA and SC and from the mountains here in Western NC. Never found a difference.

[Dante_F]

ok so, could i just strip the bark and treat it like a white wood or use heartwood and should i seal the ends

[Pat B]

Always seal the ends and the back if you remove the bark.  For your first couple of mulberry bows use the heartwood. You chase a ring just like with osage. Once you get familiar making bows and used to working mulberry you can experiment.