Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: carl on February 17, 2011, 01:19:30 am

Title: cotton wood
Post by: carl on February 17, 2011, 01:19:30 am

Greetings all, my neighbor is going to take out a cotton wood tree. Has any one made a bow out of this wood or is it just good for dug out canoes ;-)

Carl

Title: Re: cotton wood
Post by: Pat B on February 17, 2011, 01:26:20 am

Cottonwood is not a good option for bows but might be just fine for arrows.

Title: Re: cotton wood
Post by: toymaker on February 17, 2011, 01:33:16 am

The woods next to my work is loaded with huge Cottonwood trees. Judging by the way healthy branches break off I wouldn't use it for anything but firewood :( 

Title: Re: cotton wood
Post by: sailordad on February 17, 2011, 01:34:11 am

i wouldnt use it for a bow
but i have seen a lot of people on here try woods that werent supposed to be bow woods
make some decent bows
like they say, keep it long and keep it wide
just a guess but if you go 6" wide by 9' long
it might make a decent bow  ;D
 

Title: Re: cotton wood
Post by: JW_Halverson on February 17, 2011, 01:36:57 am

The Apache used cottonwood roots and heavily deflexed the tips so that they were under no strain when strung.  many Apache considered the repeating gun to still be a weak choice and suitable only if you didn't have a bow handy!

Title: Re: cotton wood
Post by: Bevan R. on February 17, 2011, 01:37:57 am

Remember an article in PA where a guy in Hungry (I think) used cottonwood for his arrows.

Bevan

Title: Re: cotton wood
Post by: JackCrafty on February 17, 2011, 02:38:13 am

I've tried cottonwood and it is weak in tension.  It is very light wood, and I guess I would compare it to white pine.  You can make a bow out of it but you can't put much strain on the wood.

I think the Apaches used willow, not cottonwood.

Title: Re: cotton wood
Post by: carl on February 17, 2011, 11:24:19 pm

Thanks, just as I suspected. The fire wood rout sounds good to me. I'll check on the root idea.
Carl