ash for a board bow

[danny f]

hi all i was wondering if ash would be suitable as a board bow? i have found a place that sells lengths of 4"- 1" ash boards and as i have no seasoned wood to work with i was thinking of having a ride to see if i can find a nice straight grained piece to make my first board bow, i know ash can be used for bows but havent read anywhere of an ash board bow. also they said they sell white oak is this any good to use as i will look at that to if it is?. cheers danny.

[k-hat]

I know the white oak would make a great board bow, ash should as well, though i haven't done one yet (been tempted!).  Worst that could happen is you try it and learn how to break an ash board

The key on either will be straight grain running down what will be the back and the sides.  Quartersawn i believe is preferable, though some prefer rift or bias.

Good luck!

[paulsemp]

 I have made a few ash board bows but I highly recommend backing it with hickory. The only ones that survived had hic on them!

[George Tsoukalas]

Yes, it will make a bow. If this is your first back with linen, silk or burlap. More on my site. Jawge

[George Tsoukalas]

http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/index.html

[danny f]

thanks for the advice and for the link. i will go and have a look then when im off work. not to sure where they sell hickory im in the uk. but could get linen or silk pretty easily, i will probably try both types. if nothing else it will give me something to do, until i get some seasoned logs from somewhere. cheers

[Ian.]

American/Canadian White Ash is very good from the board, quality can be very hit or miss more so than any other wood.

If you can find a good board then you will be able to make bows from it, I make loads of bows for reenactor's and it is rare for the bow to break. I have also made board bows up to about 110lb, its all about the quality you can find. I personally never back them.

I have had similar results with White Oak although that is very susceptible to compression fractures.

[Ragi]

I work almost exclusively with White ask Board staves. I love ASH. it is a pretty grain, makes a nice 50 lbs or less flat bow with little effort and many filks I know are shooting mine, in some cases for years. Durable and ding resistant. a well done back needs no backing.

I recommend getting a 6/4 board over 4/4 for your fist few staves.

Ragi

[bubby]

get some quarter sawn ash and white oak , white oak makes a great backer, Bub

[danny f]

cheers everyone. 

[dragonman]

I have made at least 20 ash board bows, half with american white ash the rest english, not much difference in performance, its a great material for bows, provided you make a flat bow 2" wide, had no failures unless I did something stupid, very little set and all still shooting , I really recommend t as bow wood, especially for a first bow, if you lightly heat treat it  its even better

[danny f]

i managed to get a nice piece yesterday so i will be working on it as soon as poss, i put some pics of it on another thread.