Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Julian on May 01, 2018, 12:38:48 am

Title: Tree ID: Is this birch? Is it any good for bows? (UPDATE: fixed pic)
Post by: Julian on May 01, 2018, 12:38:48 am
So I've found a thicket of what I think are birch trees, which I've heard can make bows.

This is a somewhat big deal for me, because I've never had access to staves before. I don't feel bad about cutting these either because they're an introduced/invasive species here in aus, and they're growing in what is supposed to be a native reserve.

(https://i.imgur.com/WrOe6eo.jpg)


Is this birch? If not, what is it?
Thanks
Title: Re: Tree ID: Is this birch? Is it any good for bows?
Post by: Ryan Jacob on May 01, 2018, 12:50:19 am
I don’t know why but the pics wont load for me
Title: Re: Tree ID: Is this birch? Is it any good for bows?
Post by: Julian on May 01, 2018, 04:43:23 am
I don’t know why but the pics wont load for me

my bad, forgot to include the link
Title: Re: Tree ID: Is this birch? Is it any good for bows? (UPDATE: fixed pic)
Post by: PatM on May 01, 2018, 05:26:01 am
I'd be more inclined to say some type of Poplar.
Title: Re: Tree ID: Is this birch? Is it any good for bows? (UPDATE: fixed pic)
Post by: Julian on May 01, 2018, 06:17:21 am
I'd be more inclined to say some type of Poplar.

Guess I'll make spoons from it instead

EDIT:

I think it's white poplar
Title: Re: Tree ID: Is this birch? Is it any good for bows? (UPDATE: fixed pic)
Post by: Hawkdancer on May 01, 2018, 10:25:17 am
You might be able to check with a forester or naturalist.  Or just give it a go!  I think the bowyers here would say wide and long!  I'm a newbie at bow making, though.  Pics of the leaves would help with id, I think.
Title: Re: Tree ID: Is this birch? Is it any good for bows? (UPDATE: fixed pic)
Post by: willie on May 01, 2018, 10:40:36 am
you could run some tests on a piece of your sample. can you cut a longish piece out that is fairly consistent in width and thickness?
Title: Re: Tree ID: Is this birch? Is it any good for bows? (UPDATE: fixed pic)
Post by: turmoiler on May 01, 2018, 06:14:09 pm
It's poplar for sure
Title: Re: Tree ID: Is this birch? Is it any good for bows? (UPDATE: fixed pic)
Post by: bushboy on May 01, 2018, 06:45:28 pm
Ryoon made a poplar bow a few years back!just gotta make it super long and wide a guess?
Title: Re: Tree ID: Is this birch? Is it any good for bows? (UPDATE: fixed pic)
Post by: PatM on May 01, 2018, 06:52:33 pm
Ryan's bow was not real poplar though.
Title: Re: Tree ID: Is this birch? Is it any good for bows? (UPDATE: fixed pic)
Post by: DC on May 01, 2018, 06:57:01 pm
Why wasn't it Poplar? not enough people vote for it ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Tree ID: Is this birch? Is it any good for bows? (UPDATE: fixed pic)
Post by: upstatenybowyer on May 01, 2018, 07:54:30 pm
Why wasn't it Poplar? not enough people vote for it ;D ;D ;D ;D

omg DC  ;D
Title: Re: Tree ID: Is this birch? Is it any good for bows? (UPDATE: fixed pic)
Post by: Julian on May 01, 2018, 08:39:09 pm
Ryoon made a poplar bow a few years back!just gotta make it super long and wide a guess?

not really interested in a super long, super wide bow, tbh
Title: Re: Tree ID: Is this birch? Is it any good for bows? (UPDATE: fixed pic)
Post by: Eric Krewson on May 02, 2018, 07:11:49 am
It is definitely not the kind of poplar we have in the south, what we have here has slick barked saplings.
Title: Re: Tree ID: Is this birch? Is it any good for bows? (UPDATE: fixed pic)
Post by: Julian on May 02, 2018, 07:20:43 am
If I get bored, I'll make a bow from it. I think I'll cut a stave to season. I looked up some more and I'm pretty sure it's White Poplar or Silver Poplar.