Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: bassman on April 18, 2020, 04:59:09 pm

Title: What wood ,What bush
Post by: bassman on April 18, 2020, 04:59:09 pm
I think the wood is Honey Locust, and the bush is Spice Bush. Any one know for sure. I made some arrows with the shoots of this bush that turned out  good.
Title: Re: What wood ,What bush
Post by: bassman on April 18, 2020, 05:04:57 pm
I cut grooves in the shafts,and heat treated them. That was about 5 years ago ,and they are still straight. If the wood is Honey Locust I want to try fire hardening on a form.
Title: Re: What wood ,What bush
Post by: Ricardovanleeuwen on April 18, 2020, 05:34:35 pm
 Aint that rose Wood? Looks alot like my rosé stave
Title: Re: What wood ,What bush
Post by: PatM on April 18, 2020, 05:39:53 pm
Looks more like Forsythia.   Don't think that's Honey Locust.
Title: Re: What wood ,What bush
Post by: bassman on April 18, 2020, 06:37:31 pm
Wasn't sure . Seems really light in weight . I have some Walnut, Elm , and Birch I can try. I 'll put  it away to dry ,and play with it later this summer. That bush is every were here in Western PA.
Title: Re: What wood ,What bush
Post by: bjrogg on April 18, 2020, 07:03:01 pm
I agree. The bush looks like forsythia. I have made arrow from it before. I still like it for kids arrows. It’s fairly light in weight and spine. Most of my first arrows I made from it. I actually made them with fat end back, skinny end forward. Made dynamic spine heavier.
Bjrogg
Title: Re: What wood ,What bush
Post by: Eric Krewson on April 18, 2020, 07:07:09 pm
The flowers look like forsythia, it shouldn't have thorns on the trunk if it is. We have something around here called the "devils walking stick" that looks a bit like your trunk picture but it has different flowers.


Title: Re: What wood ,What bush
Post by: bassman on April 18, 2020, 07:25:25 pm
Eric, the flowers are from a bush. The sapling is different. Not the bush. It was the only tree in the whole area that looked like that.Hard to handle. Jags the heck out of your hands. I had no gloves when I cut it, and it is very thorny.
Title: Re: What wood ,What bush
Post by: Pat B on April 18, 2020, 07:34:21 pm
Eric is right. The flowers are Forsythia and the thorny stem is Devils Walking Stick.
Title: Re: What wood ,What bush
Post by: bassman on April 18, 2020, 07:40:17 pm
Yes he is right along with Pat M ,and Bj. I don't know if the sapling will make a bow ,but the shoots make good arrows, and in my area plenty to pick from. Thanks for the info.
Title: Re: What wood ,What bush
Post by: bassman on April 18, 2020, 07:50:51 pm
Bj , those arrows at 25 inches long are around 510 grs. with a 70 gr. stone point give or take. I shoot them out of horse bows in the 45 lb range give or take. They work.
Title: Re: What wood ,What bush
Post by: bassman on April 18, 2020, 07:53:25 pm
The shafts are 3/8 ths  of an inch.
Title: Re: What wood ,What bush
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on April 18, 2020, 08:15:14 pm
Good looking arrows.
The sapling looks like a young black locust to me. When small they typically have their trunk covered in small thorns, just like how the mature trees have thorns on their branches. What’s the end grain look like?

Kyle
Title: Re: What wood ,What bush
Post by: bassman on April 18, 2020, 09:21:40 pm
I will shoot a pic tomorrow.
Title: Re: What wood ,What bush
Post by: Pat B on April 18, 2020, 09:59:55 pm
Devil's Walking Stick generally has no branches, maybe a split trunk but no branches. I have it growing along my driveway and Forsythia in my yard. I never tried either for bows or arrows but I can see how Forsythia could make arrows.
Title: Re: What wood ,What bush
Post by: Eric Krewson on April 19, 2020, 07:46:18 am
The ones I keep trying to kill have a wad of branches at the top but nothing up the trunk.

(https://i.imgur.com/7rUR5mB.jpg)

Title: Re: What wood ,What bush
Post by: bassman on April 19, 2020, 09:23:55 am
Well I have learned from this post ,so it was worth it. Thanks again for every body's in put.
Title: Re: What wood ,What bush
Post by: Pat B on April 19, 2020, 10:32:50 am
Devil's walking stick has pinnately compound leaves and what I think you are calling branches, Eric, are the petioles for the compound leaves. The patch along my driveway have no branches.
Title: Re: What wood ,What bush
Post by: Hawkdancer on April 19, 2020, 11:08:24 am
That Devil's Walking Stick looks real nasty!  At least until the bark is peeled off!  What is the scientific name!
Hawkdancer
Title: Re: What wood ,What bush
Post by: bassman on April 19, 2020, 12:39:07 pm
Aralia Spinosa, The Morton Arboretum. The one I cut is big enough in diameter for a bow, and on the very top looked to have rotted branches, and when I cut the tree they explode when they hit the ground.