Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Justin.schmidt23 on July 19, 2016, 05:09:26 pm
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So I really don't know how to identify different woods. I've been googling non stop which just confuses me. So I'd like to see if some of you gents can help me out. I tried to order them so it's tree then the following picture is its corresponding leaves.
(https://s31.postimg.org/ovtprpk87/20160719_163234.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/ovtprpk87/)
(https://s31.postimg.org/lnd8rbsh3/20160719_163248.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/lnd8rbsh3/)
(https://s31.postimg.org/4svn2arfb/20160719_163300.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/4svn2arfb/)
(https://s31.postimg.org/757bb6lbr/20160719_163513.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/757bb6lbr/)
(https://s32.postimg.org/nzljydrgx/20160719_163524.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/nzljydrgx/)
(https://s31.postimg.org/9wq4ilidz/20160719_164927.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/9wq4ilidz/)
(https://s31.postimg.org/gxuqzhbxz/20160719_164935.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/gxuqzhbxz/)
I believe most of these are some kind of oak and maybe some hickory? I'd much rather use what's in my back yard rather than use a board from HD
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i could be wrong, but that looks like Bay Laurel.
crush one of the leaves and smell it. see if it smell resembles a cooking spice, or the bay leaves used for cooking.
if the leaves have serrated edges, then it is something that shouldn't be eaten.
from your photos, it appears to have leaves with smooth edges.
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i could be wrong, but that looks like Bay Laurel.
crush one of the leaves and smell it. see if it smell resembles a cooking spice, or the bay leaves used for cooking.
if the leaves have serrated edges, then it is something that shouldn't be eaten.
from your photos, it appears to have leaves with smooth edges.
I think may be a cherry laurel I just found out I have one in my front yard. Possible bow wood??
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^^ i think either of those would be ok to work with.
someone can chime in if they know.
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I think may be a cherry laurel I just found out I have one in my front yard.
if it is truly cherry laurel, you may want to read on it in terms of safe handling. i think only the leaves and fruit are poisonous, but i'd double check.
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As long as I can turn it into a good serviceable bow I'll be happy :)
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Where do you live?
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Where do you live?
Central florida
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The straight one with the leaning trunk looks like a Water Oak to me. Pretty common in our woods. Kinda hard to tell which leaves you are talking about because I see Holly, Virginia Creeper, poison ivy. The shiney leaf is Water Oak, though. There are better choices for bow wood then that.
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The straight one with the leaning trunk looks like a Water Oak to me. Pretty common in our woods. Kinda hard to tell which leaves you are talking about because I see Holly, Virginia Creeper, poison ivy. The shiney leaf is Water Oak, though. There are better choices for bow wood then that.
Well I have some live oak in the back would that be a better choice?
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Better choices available than Live Oak as well. Very heavy but low in elasticity. I have seen one made from it so doable. It was a small diameter branch bow.
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Alright so no live oak. I have cherry laurel. If that doesn't work then it's board bows for me lol
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If you have oak there has to Hickory or Eastern Red Cedar near by. Cedar with mostly sapwood will make a nice shooting bow. Cypress makes a good bow also. Also, look for wild citrus trees back in dense growth. In a lot of shade they will grow real straight along with persimmon.
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Ok will do. Im gonna take a walk through the woods here. Apparently red mulberry grows around here and id love to get my hands on some of that.
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I've never seen Red Mulberry in our neck of the woods. Most of the Mulberry down here is White Mulberry and is better, a very close Cousin to Osage. Also, don't rule out Magnolia.
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I've never seen Red Mulberry in our neck of the woods. Most of the Mulberry down here is White Mulberry and is better, a very close Cousin to Osage. Also, don't rule out Magnolia.
OK I'll see if I can't find a good piece of hickory. If I cut down our 1 magnolia tree my wife will skin me lol
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Ok what is this guy? I scraped the bark and it smells VERY spicy I'm thinking elm
(https://s31.postimg.org/liib0rndz/20160721_151652.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/liib0rndz/)
(https://s31.postimg.org/l5ms019h3/20160721_151937.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/l5ms019h3/)
(https://s31.postimg.org/mqembt9kn/20160721_152802.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/mqembt9kn/)
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Hard to tell just seeing the bark. Most of the elm you see in Ocala is crooked and twisted. Very hard to find a pice that isn't twisted like a Barber's pole and small in diameter. The bark almost looks like hickory but it would be easier to ID with a pictures of some leaves, too.
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(https://s32.postimg.org/w5x7a28u9/20160721_151937.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/w5x7a28u9/)
Also found this guy, I'm thinking it's hickory
(https://s32.postimg.org/bxu6bdia9/20160721_181040.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/bxu6bdia9/)
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The bottom one is hickory. I'm trying to find my tree book for the top one. It's on the tip of my tongue but I'm not sure. Also the 3 day Archery shoot is in Ocala August 5-7. I'll be up there.
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Ok I'd be interested to know what it is. I'm slowly figuring out what is what. The bark kinda throws me off here's a pic of the bark for the 2nd one I posted, kinda looks like ash.
(https://s32.postimg.org/6xiwan8v5/20160721_181048.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/6xiwan8v5/)
Sweet so will I. I don't have a bow to shoot but I'll be there
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Got it, Camphor. That's why it smells spicey. I new I had seen it, I pass one two houses down everyday I go to work.
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Ok awesome thanks for all the help. Is camphor bow material or should I just stick with hickory? Seems like all of have is oak, and some hickory and A LOT of pine lol. Hope to see you at the shoot
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Never seen Ash down here and I'd stick with the Hickory if you have it. I'll probably be at the shoot Sat-Sun.
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Ok will do. Hope to see you there
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Unfortunately the one we thought was hickory is in fact chinaberry. Bummer
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Chinaberry is in the top ten bow woods according to the formula on the wood database. I wouldn't know personally having never worked it, but would try it based on it's physical properties. You should check out that website. It lists all the woods by species and includes physical properties, photos of grain, common uses, and tons of other useful info.
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Wow that's good to know. Trying to distinguish between trees is a lot harder than I thought it would be
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You should try doing it during the winter without any leaves or better yet a buddy drops a log off for you and all he knows is it's a hardwood of some kind.
It only gets easier from here. Get a good field ID book and learn the terminology to used to describe the leaf, bark, and growth characteristics. If you use the right words in the search bar, google will give you the right ID a fair amount of the time.
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Yeah I'm starting to learn it with the oppisite/alternate leaves and furrowed bark and what not.
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Man, I was leaning towards Chinaberry, I thought the leaves were a little light in color.Make a Chinaberry bow a little wider and a little longer
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Got her all cut down, gonna split her tomorrow. Got a nice natural curve and some beautiful grain
(https://s31.postimg.org/l35723ddj/20160722_205031.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/l35723ddj/)
(https://s31.postimg.org/7dje1bo2f/20160722_205043.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/7dje1bo2f/)