Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Prarie Bowyer on March 17, 2013, 08:40:31 pm

Title: Hickory heart wood for longbows?
Post by: Prarie Bowyer on March 17, 2013, 08:40:31 pm

Anybody have any experience with Hickory heart wood as a Belly material for longer bows?

Title: Re: Hickory heart wood for longbows?
Post by: twisted hickory on March 17, 2013, 09:22:55 pm

I have made a 50 inch kids bow that is made out of heart wood. The bow shoots fast for a kinda bow. I haven't chronod it but it is a shooter.i started on one for myself but I dried it too fast and it cracked.
Chasing a ring on a piece of hickory is a pain. Ya won't need your draw knife. The growth rings are only about a mm thick.

Title: Re: Hickory heart wood for longbows?
Post by: BOWMAN53 on March 17, 2013, 09:37:20 pm

DUDE!!! I just made one today lol. Just got done heat treating it. I did shoot it a few times and it shoot great. 66" long 1 1/4" wide bend through the handle. 50# @27" its sapwood back with heart wood belly.

Title: Re: Hickory heart wood for longbows?
Post by: ionicmuffin on March 17, 2013, 10:14:41 pm

interestingly enough, the one i made of hickory happens to be very thick ringed, i think part of this has to do with the species of hickory you wind up working with.

Title: Re: Hickory heart wood for longbows?
Post by: k-hat on March 18, 2013, 12:09:26 am

Haven't noticed any difference between heart/sap wood on hickory.  I've made a few calico bows that had both and they just look purty ;)

Title: Re: Hickory heart wood for longbows?
Post by: crooketarrow on March 18, 2013, 07:49:28 am

  You don't have to chase a ring with HICKORY. I'll bet it was a pain. I use the ring right under the bark. If you heat heart wood becarefull it's easy made brittle. I prefer white wood but have made a few with just heart wood alot  combo.

Title: Re: Hickory heart wood for longbows?
Post by: twisted hickory on March 18, 2013, 09:10:30 am

Crooket,
To get to the heart wood of a 25 inch piece of hickory you do. It was a real pain took like 4 hours. BTW I wont do it any more. High quality hickory is as common here as flies on crap.
Greg

Title: Re: Hickory heart wood for longbows?
Post by: Nashoba on March 20, 2013, 10:19:40 pm

I have never had any trouble with hickory heart wood whether it be on the belly or the back. Personally I prefer the more mature wood on the outer rings over the juvenile wood in the center, but I honestly could not tell you the difference in hickory.

Title: Re: Hickory heart wood for longbows?
Post by: Gus on March 20, 2013, 10:31:06 pm

This sounds like an interesting thread...

-gus

Title: Re: Hickory heart wood for longbows?
Post by: Prarie Bowyer on March 21, 2013, 02:11:35 pm

Quote from: BOWMAN53 on March 17, 2013, 09:37:20 pm

DUDE!!! I just made one today lol. Just got done heat treating it. I did shoot it a few times and it shoot great. 66" long 1 1/4" wide bend through the handle. 50# @27" its sapwood back with heart wood belly.

Pics?

Title: Re: Hickory heart wood for longbows?
Post by: Prarie Bowyer on March 21, 2013, 02:13:56 pm

So then hicklory heart wood makes a fine belly.  How is it as a backing?  I had read/heard that you definately only want the sap wood for that?

Title: Re: Hickory heart wood for longbows?
Post by: BOWMAN53 on March 21, 2013, 02:16:50 pm

Ill see if i can post a link to the pics. Yeah sap wood is much better in tension.

Title: Re: Hickory heart wood for longbows?
Post by: BOWMAN53 on March 21, 2013, 02:38:16 pm

http://m1287.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/jamesbowyer89/20130317_191722_zpsb0e80c4a.jpg.html?o=2

Idk if you can see the contrast of heart and sap in this pic or not.
http://m1287.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/jamesbowyer89/20130321_095950_zpse66576cb.jpg.html?o=3

http://m1287.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/jamesbowyer89/20130321_095818_zps594a172f.jpg.html?o=1

http://m1287.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/jamesbowyer89/20130321_095718_zps6fabc5d9.jpg.html?o=0

Title: Re: Hickory heart wood for longbows?
Post by: mikekeswick on March 21, 2013, 04:00:00 pm

Sapwood may be the ideal for a backing but heartwood works just fine. I've done about 15 or so with heartwood backings and no problems at all.
I haven't used heartwood for bellies so I dunno!