Author Topic: Southern Live Oak as a hornbow core wood  (Read 2525 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Chuckalong

  • Member
  • Posts: 8
Southern Live Oak as a hornbow core wood
« on: November 05, 2024, 04:30:21 pm »
I'd like to know what you folks think of Southern Live  Oak as a hornbow core wood.


Southern Live Oak differs from most other oaks in that it is diffuse porrous rather than ring porous.

Offline Chuckalong

  • Member
  • Posts: 8
Re: Southern Live Oak as a hornbow core wood
« Reply #1 on: November 05, 2024, 04:37:16 pm »
https://bushcraftusa.com/forum/threads/axe-handle-materials-full-guide-to-species-toughness.183764/

According to this link live oak has an "impact bending" strength of just 33 inches.

Is this property relevant to horn bows? It seems like oak is low compared to most other woods. Yet this measurement was not much lower than the highest measurement for maple (40 inches) - even hard maple has a relatively low "impact bending strength".


Southern live oak has a very high SG however it would make for very heavy draw weights with low-thickness staves. One might be able to make very thin lightweight shortbows with it.
« Last Edit: November 05, 2024, 06:12:06 pm by Chuckalong »