Beechwood anyone?

[Sidewinder]

Has anyone ever worked with Beechwood? My Dad called me today and asked if I could check into Beechwood as a bow wood. He has a table at home that is made of it and he really likes it. He knows that I am going to make him a bow soon and if it makes good bow wood then I shall attempt at making his in that.   Danny

[adb]

Isn't beechwood used extensively by wood carvers? I know it's a white wood, and has minimal knots, but I think it's pretty soft, like poplar. Bottom line... I don't know!!

[wvfknapper]

Well I just posted on this and it didn't show.... Beech is a Hard wood and from what i have read it makes good bows, just treat like other white wood and make it a little extra wider and maybe a little longer.

Most carvers use Bass Wood,almost as soft as paper.

wvflintknapper

[DanaM]

I think it will work but keep it wide and long. I have a stave dring for a future bow.

[Sidewinder]

Dana, If my target was a 25" draw 40# bow not more than 64" long what would you recommend for width at the fade in a pyramid design? Would 1 3/4-1 7/8" be ok? Does it tend to be softer hardwood? Its in the same family as oaks isn't it? In terms of durability how does it stack up against white oak? Danny

[markinengland]

Beech is a good strong wood, much used to make furnitire. It steam bends very well.
I plan on cutting some this winter for trying later in the year.
Mark

[Auggie]

Beechwood has been used to make beer barrels for many years,so it is a fair hard wood,dont know why it wouldnt make a good bow.

[Marc St Louis]

I've made a few Beech bows in the past. Don't have any pictures but I would rate the wood alongside White Ash

[Bent Rig]

I cut a Beech tree down last spring when the leaves were at 3/4 bloom , bark on all trees cut peeled off nice with ease . The splitting of Beech probably ranks up there as one of the worst, very stringy and tough to figure on how it's going to follow the grain. But a freind of mine made a nice bow of Beech , so I wanted to try it , and I'm about 3/4 complete with mine , it's definitely a hardwood . I built mine with a overbuilt(Meare Heath) design for hunting and target .

[DanaM]

Dana, If my target was a 25" draw 40# bow not more than 64" long what would you recommend for width at the fade in a pyramid design? Would 1 3/4-1 7/8" be ok? Does it tend to be softer hardwood? Its in the same family as oaks isn't it? In terms of durability how does it stack up against white oak? Danny

I haven't tried it yet but at 40#@25"  at 64" I think I would start at 2" at the fade for 2/3 of the limb than taper
to 1/2" nocks, floor tiller then heat in a few inches of reflex, as you tiller do a combination of belly tillering and side
tillering to reduce the width. I bet you can get the width down to 1 5/8 t 1 3/4" no problem if yer careful I maybe even 1.5"