hackberry design

[Lost Arra]

I got a nice hackberry log this weekend. After splitting, I removed the bark and sealed the back and ends.

I've never used this wood and wanted to know if the design/layout would be similar to hickory.
Do I need to chase a ring like osage?

Thanks

[DanaM]

No need to chase a ring, just peel the bark off. As the design I 'm not sure but I believe its a little less tough than hickory

[tom sawyer]

Its a bit lighter than hickory but holds up well as bow wood.  I made a very nice 64" 50lb@27" bow of hackberry, limbs were around 1.75" wide to midlimb as I recall.  It was a very snappy shooter.  I shot it awhile then gave it to a guy, he reported that it broke on him a year later but I don't know the details.

[TRACY]

I treat it just like my hickory bows except I build it a little wider at the fades, 2"+or-. Since it's in the elm family you could build it like you would an elm bow and be fine. Good luck.

Tracy

[Pappy]

I have build several from Hackberry and what Tracy said will work fine.Just go very slow on
the tiller if you have a problem take care of it early,it will go away on you quick if you make a bad tiller mistake.Beautiful wood and light to carry in the woods. You don't need to chase a ring ,but chasing one is usually no problem,at least not with the ones I have done.
   Pappy

[GregB]

If comparing hickory and hackberry bows of the same dimensions(other then limb thickness), draw, and weight...the hackberry will have thicker limbs. If you're using a band saw to rough the bow in, I would lay the limb thickness out thicker then normal as a precaution prior to starting floor tillering.