Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: fishfinder401 on October 31, 2011, 02:14:27 am

Title: white oak
Post by: fishfinder401 on October 31, 2011, 02:14:27 am

hi, i was wondering how white oak would do in a elb style, it would be from a stave. it would be from a  branch of huge tree on a property we are selling, it must be 200 years old at least
also, what properties does this wood have, and what weight can i safely obtain
thanks
noel

Title: Re: white oak
Post by: bubby on October 31, 2011, 05:08:01 am

i don't know about an elb, but it makes a great self bow, and a great backer as well, can't hardly break it, in fact i ain't broke it yet, course you probablly want a 200# bow and i can't vouch for it above 70#, Bub

Title: Re: white oak
Post by: Hrothgar on October 31, 2011, 11:30:26 am

White oak is strong with nice even grain as a rule. In an ELB it is  kind of slow and will take set. Don't know for sure how heavy a bow it can make. Good luck.

Title: Re: white oak
Post by: mikekeswick on October 31, 2011, 12:13:48 pm

I'd go for a fairly heavily trapped back, heat treated belly and make it long (78ish). It won't fail in tension anyway!

Title: Re: white oak
Post by: adb on October 31, 2011, 01:05:27 pm

White oak makes a decent backing. Nearly as good as hickory.

Title: Re: white oak
Post by: Matt S. on October 31, 2011, 01:11:17 pm

Lots of good advice so far. I'll throw my 2 cents in...
If you want to make a heavy bow (warbow), and knowing you that's your plan ;) I'd be sacrilegious and make the bow with a flat belly and crowned or trapped back . . . . the exact opposite of the ELB cross section. Though I have no experience with this wood or warbows, I would guess with this cross section and a very long (78" +) stave you could make one hefty bow.

Best of luck and keep us updated.

Title: Re: white oak
Post by: TurtleCreek on October 31, 2011, 02:09:13 pm

  What kind of draw weight are you looking to get out of it?

Title: Re: white oak
Post by: fishfinder401 on October 31, 2011, 02:50:53 pm

thanks foe all the info, as far as weihgt goes, i just want to make it at the upper reaches of what the wood can handle, nothing specific, if it can only handle 70, thats fine, but so is 150 >:D
thanks
noel

Title: Re: white oak
Post by: TurtleCreek on October 31, 2011, 03:15:21 pm

  I have a hickory english longbow blank but It certainly wouldn't be able to get that high in draw weight, maybe 45 to 50 pounds at most.

Title: Re: white oak
Post by: aznboi3644 on October 31, 2011, 03:25:43 pm

If you do a search in the warbow section there is a bamboo backed white oak ELB that is around 120lbs draw weight IIRC