I've only been making bows since around January, and for some reason the only wood available where I'm stationed now, aside of tons and tons of pine, is red oak from Lowe's or Home Depot. I have 4 kids, so I don't have a lot of time to devote. I've tried cutting down trees of my own, the first was a persimmon that was riddled with ant colonies, and the second, a few days ago, was a decent sized hickory that had the same problem, but I'm hoping I'll be able to work around... after the wood dries out... in a year. Until then, I would REALLY like to get my hands on some Black Locust or Dogwood, but local mills are only interested in soft woods around here. I contacted a guy in North Carolina (I'm in Augusta, GA btw), but a Black Locust log, unaltered, would be $70+$100 shipping. Does anyone have any advice or could anyone help me procure some decent wood. While my product, so far 5 out of 6 (I broke my very first one. Good lesson on proper tillering.), have come out looking really nice and working perfectly, I'm tired of being restricted to kiln-dried red oak boards.
Here are two pictures of my most recent creation. Red oak, near-pyramid design for quickness and reduced hand shock, around 38# at 28", "Merlot" colored stain from Lowe's, unbacked (whole board was only 2 or 3 rings throughout most of it. Incredible SG), hand-wrap is a ripped up t-shirt, and I had my mom paint the vines and flowers. Sold it for $50 to a coworker who had me commission it for his girlfriend. Smoothest shooting bow I've made so far.
I make my bows using a drawknife, hatchet, bowie knife for scraping, and wood files for the nocks and grooves in the handle.
