Is hazel a good wood bow?

[SpringyWoodPassion]

I've experimented with Black Locust, Elm and Hazel so far. I've had bad luck with B. Locust as it developed those annoying compression cracks on the belly. These kind of cracks are so frustrating. I put so much time and energy into making a bow only to hear that ominous sound of wood cracking while tillering. I take it off the tillering board and I see the compression cracks, which I know will eventually lead to  bow breakage. This has mainly happened when working with B. Locust. I'm feeling so disappointed with B. Locust because of that.  BTW, the width of my B. Locust staves have only been 2" wide.
 
Hazel, however behaved very well for me when tillering or even heat treating. I'm just not sure about long term performance of Hazel bows.

What are your experiences with Hazel and B. Locust
Thanks

[Del the cat]

Never used BL but Hazel does well with wide limbs and moderate poundage.
Del

[SpringyWoodPassion]

Do you think 40-45# for a 2" wide and 64" long Hazel stave is achievable?
This B. Locust wood. I've heard so many good things about it. But it breaks so easily like I would never believe.

[stuckinthemud]

For what draw length?

[Del the cat]

Do you think 40-45# for a 2" wide and 64" long Hazel stave is achievable?
This B. Locust wood. I've heard so many good things about it. But it breaks so easily like I would never believe.

Here's one I made earlier
https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2013/06/paint-job-and-tiller-video.html
Del

[Pat B]

Hazelnut, yes, witch hazel, no.

[SpringyWoodPassion]

Do you think 40-45# for a 2" wide and 64" long Hazel stave is achievable?
This B. Locust wood. I've heard so many good things about it. But it breaks so easily like I would never believe.

Here's one I made earlier
https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2013/06/paint-job-and-tiller-video.html
Del

It's hazel in the video, right? Excellent! I would be very nervous trying to bend the tips so hard. Did you steam bend them or hit them with a heat gun?

[SpringyWoodPassion]

For what draw length?

28-29" draw length

[SpringyWoodPassion]

Hazelnut, yes, witch hazel, no.

It's Coppiced Hazel or Corylus Avellana.

[Del the cat]

Do you think 40-45# for a 2" wide and 64" long Hazel stave is achievable?
This B. Locust wood. I've heard so many good things about it. But it breaks so easily like I would never believe.

Here's one I made earlier
https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2013/06/paint-job-and-tiller-video.html
Del

It's hazel in the video, right? Excellent! I would be very nervous trying to bend the tips so hard. Did you steam bend them or hit them with a heat gun?

https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2013/05/radical-recurve.html

[GlisGlis]

if you can cut hazelnut from shady places, north side of hill or tree born under a thick canopy
they usually develop tighter rings
Avoid hazelnuts with greenish brown bark and prefer dark gray- silver
Hazelnut also tolerate well to be shaped and fast dried. few checks compared to other wood species

[SpringyWoodPassion]

if you can cut hazelnut from shady places, north side of hill or tree born under a thick canopy
they usually develop tighter rings
Avoid hazelnuts with greenish brown bark and prefer dark gray- silver
Hazelnut also tolerate well to be shaped and fast dried. few checks compared to other wood species

Makes sense. Dense wood growing slowly in dimly lit places, where sun rays barely reaches them. I'll keep that in mind. Thanks

[SpringyWoodPassion]

https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2013/05/radical-recurve.html
[/quote]

Wow. That's a really radical recurve. Looks like you were really torturing those limbs.

[SpringyWoodPassion]

Del the Cat ! Nice YT channel you've got. I subscribed yesterday. Nice watching it