Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: legend on July 15, 2017, 09:20:32 am

Title: English Hardwoods ?
Post by: legend on July 15, 2017, 09:20:32 am: Hello All
I am just gathering a little more information before I go ahead with making a static recurve bow . I have a basic understanding of the right hardwoods to use as a stave if youre talking about American Hardwoods , but can any of the members give me their thoughts on apart from Yew , what are the best English Hardwoods to use for such a bow ? Would white oak be suitable ? or what other woods which are suited to steam bending ( with both strength and elasticity ) and is decent in both tension and compression ?
Many thanks .
Mike
Title: Re: English Hardwoods ?
Post by: PatM on July 15, 2017, 10:07:15 am: Laburnum, Elm, Blackthorn.
Title: Re: English Hardwoods ?
Post by: Lucasade on July 15, 2017, 10:29:50 am: Hazel, ash, elder too
Title: Re: English Hardwoods ?
Post by: Del the cat on July 15, 2017, 02:02:32 pm: I've made a cool Hazel static recurve...
https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/recurve-beltane-hazel-full-draw.html (https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/recurve-beltane-hazel-full-draw.html)
https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/paint-job-and-tiller-video.html (https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/paint-job-and-tiller-video.html)
If you follow the build of this bow you'll see all the problems I had an maybe you'll realise it's no task for a beginner.
Suffice it to say my regular 3D shooting bow, is a simple Neolithic style Yew bow... no fancy recurves.
If you really must try for recurves, I'd say get it built and shooting first and then put in the reflex.
Del
Title: Re: English Hardwoods ?
Post by: legend on July 15, 2017, 05:19:47 pm: Thanks Guys .
Mike
Title: Re: English Hardwoods ?
Post by: stuckinthemud on July 16, 2017, 04:13:41 am: Don't forget holly and field maple. Of course, there's all the fruitwoods too, except for cherry.
Title: Re: English Hardwoods ?
Post by: stuckinthemud on July 16, 2017, 04:16:43 am: In theory, sycamore should be good, but I haven't found anyone who has tried it
Title: Re: English Hardwoods ?
Post by: Del the cat on July 16, 2017, 01:56:00 pm: Quote from: stuckinthemud on July 16, 2017, 04:16:43 am
In theory, sycamore should be good, but I haven't found anyone who has tried it
Steve Ralphs makes a lot of affordable Sycamore bread and butter English Longbows, they are good work horses.
Del
Title: Re: English Hardwoods ?
Post by: turmoiler on July 16, 2017, 06:53:13 pm: When you say sicamore do you refer to sicamore maple or platanus sp?
Title: Re: English Hardwoods ?
Post by: Lucasade on July 17, 2017, 12:52:52 am: Sycamore in the UK almost always refers to acer pseudoplatanus. Also known as the Warwickshire weed around my neck of the woods.
Title: Re: English Hardwoods ?
Post by: stuckinthemud on July 17, 2017, 02:19:17 am: Its not the same sycamore as the American species on the bow woods list
Title: Re: English Hardwoods ?
Post by: mikekeswick on July 17, 2017, 02:24:45 am: Yes sycamore is acer pseudoplantnus. An invasive non native weed! It will make a good bow. Strong in tension not great in compression responds very well to heat treating and a trapped back but will make a decent bow without it.
White oak isn't native!
The best for a static recurve are yew, laburnum and any of the elms.
Title: Re: English Hardwoods ?
Post by: RatherBinTheWoods on July 18, 2017, 05:36:32 pm: Hawthorn is good in compression and tension and is regarded as a superior wood ....if you can find a piece long night which is not impossible but unlikely. Holly is also supposed to be good. I'm my limited experience elm is nice to work and tough and hazel is good and even better with a belly heat treat. My regular shooter is now as hazel stick bow.