Pacific Dogwood(flowering)

[Blayne]

Quick question about Pacific Dogwood. I have several really nice straight clear staves of it. I was hoping to make ELB style bows. Will this wood do ok with a rounded belly or would a flat belly be wiser. Probably make my first 74" long, and aim for 50lbs. Thanks!

[DC]

Gonna start on it are you?

[turtle]

Ive never worked pacific dogwood, but the flowering dogwood I have seems to like a flat belly and a crowned back.

[shofu]

HI Blayne,
I have dogwood stave roughed out and a bunch drying.  It seems like very nice dense wood with fine grain and I am excited to work it.  Hoping you will do a build-along?
Cheers,
George

[Blayne]

Maybe, thats not a bad idea. Might help me learn a little about how wrong I am doing it lol! Don I was thinking it would be cool to have it done for September. Maybe the four staves can have a reunion, and shoot some arrows!

[shofu]

Would love to know how it goes either way - a very intriguing wood.  It is very hard so should be very surface durable compared to yew which would be great for camping, hunting and stump shooting. If it is as snappy as I have heard, it could be great!  Please keep us posted one way or another!
g

[DC]

This isn't getting your question answered is it. I made one Dogwood bow a while back. It had a flat belly. I made it in a period when I turned out a bow a week for a few weeks so I never shot it much. I'm not sure where it is. Gotta be on the rack somewhere. Hmmm

[Jim Davis]

Flat belly.

[BowEd]

+1 what Jim & turtle said.It's very good wood for a flat bow though.

[DC]

I dug mine out and crono'd it. 45# and I got a best of 170 but most were 165-166 area.

[Blayne]

Thats a pretty quick bow Don! Ok I will build a AFB with it. The back is pretty well flat as this was a big tree, so there won't be much of a crown. Will see how it goes!