board woods

[Frode]

Hi all,
I live in one of those "virtual stave deserts" one of the TBB volumes spoke of, so for starters I've been working with boards.  Maple and red oak so far, but I can also get aspen, walnut and cherry.  I can also get mahogany, but I've read here that it is unsatisfactory for bows.  I've also read of cherry staves and backed walnut, but what about these boards?  I can find some with very straight grain, but are they (aspen, walnut, or cherry boards) even suitable?  I don't have any particular weight or style in mind, whatever works best with the wood.
Your input is much appreciated,
Frode

PS Ironically, come Spring, several people I know have volunteered to bring me straight saplings of just about anything you can imagine, from mulberry to ash to... 

[tombo]

What area are you in Frode?

[Frode]

Indianapolis, or close enough to call it that.
Frode

[George Tsoukalas]

No osage, black locust, oak or hickory in Indy? Maple and hickory boards are good. Jawge

[sailordad]

you should be able to find hickory,not?
other wise i would go with the walnut,back it with something,or maple.
avoid aspen,its a soft wood i believe,all i know around here when a buttrerfly flaps its wings aspen trees fall apart

[Frode]

No osage, black locust, oak or hickory in Indy? Maple and hickory boards are good. Jawge

you should be able to find hickory,not?
other wise i would go with the walnut,back it with something,or maple.
avoid aspen,its a soft wood i believe,all i know around here when a buttrerfly flaps its wings aspen trees fall apart

So far, I've only found one source for some of those, but most all of their selection would make beautiful chairs and terrifying bows
I should say, there are lots of trees around, and some that look pretty good, but not mine to cut. 
Do you think linen would be sufficient, or rather another wood?
Frode

[sailordad]

i had the same problem here in mn.
trying to find a good hick board at a box store was a bear
i finally just started looking for local sawmills and man oh man i couldnt believe the selection of woods and every imaginable cut too
i drove 125 miles one way,but for $40 i got enough for 6 good hick board bows
next time i go im getting more hick and some ashe and some of whatever looks good
i would just ask around for local sawmills an avoid box stores

[sulphur]

frode there is nothing wrong with red oak or maple.  both make great bows.  cherry will make a good bow too but it needs to be backed.  if you have a good really straight grained maple board you can resaw a backing for the cherry.  i have had iffy results with walnut.  it also needs to be backed.  You might try looking up hardwood lumber retailers on google or yahoo in the indy area.  I bet you'll find some.

[Pat B]

Aspen makes excellent arrows!

[Innocente]

i feel guilty about posting a link to a competing board, but i'm at work, so i can't post the neutral ground version of this i usually do:

this is tim baker's take on Aspen, and a buncha other wood for a bow.
http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/6213/t/List-of-Potenial-Bow-Wood-Species-With-Comments.html

[Frode]

i feel guilty about posting a link to a competing board, but i'm at work, so i can't post the neutral ground version of this i usually do:

this is tim baker's take on Aspen, and a buncha other wood for a bow.
http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/6213/t/List-of-Potenial-Bow-Wood-Species-With-Comments.html

Thanks Innocente, I'll be rereading that post several more times!

frode there is nothing wrong with red oak or maple.  both make great bows...

Yeah, I know, I'm just getting antsy in the cold, looking at all the beautiful not oak bows you all are doing .  I actually really like the way the maple I can get here works, but I will definitely start trying to find some new sources.
Thanks,
Frode

[Frode]

i had the same problem here in mn.
trying to find a good hick board at a box store was a bear
i finally just started looking for local sawmills and man oh man i couldnt believe the selection of woods and every imaginable cut too
i drove 125 miles one way,but for $40 i got enough for 6 good hick board bows
next time i go im getting more hick and some ashe and some of whatever looks good
i would just ask around for local sawmills an avoid box stores

Good point, sailordad!  I'm only three hours from Chicago and two and a half from Cincinnati, and only an hour or so from Bloomington (where I'm from, originally).  Some of those holler folk I grew up with ought to be able to set me up with something shootable!    Heck, my brother lives down in the woods down there, I should call him!
Thanks,
Frode

[zenmonkeyman]

Make friends with some arborists and landscapers, then pray for an ice storm.   

[zenmonkeyman]

Buy a ninja suit and a folding pruning saw, then set your alarm for 3:00 am. 

[Badger]

   Indiana osage is some of the best you can find. I would sure put the word out, a lot of farmers are happy to be rid of it. Steve