has any one used striped maple?

[blades7558]

 I found this arrow straight log today its about 5.5 dia and the bark looks like a striped maple. I split it in half and it popped 2 beautiful straight staves no knots and no cracks even with its moisture content being in the low teens and single digits. its not rotten in the core like the last red maple i split and im really excited to have at these guys. i was just wondering has anyone used striped maple as a core bow wood before? i plan on treating it like any other maple and going flat bow style with it.i'll post pics tomorrow

[The Gopher]

if you found the log already on the ground it has already started to deteriorate even if it doesn't look like it.

If by striped you mean spalted or ambrosia, those are just fancy words for "starting to rot", very pretty but not for wooden bows i don't think.

having said all that, there's onlu one way to find outif it will make a bow, just be careful.

[Pat B]

Striped maple, moosewood (Acer pensylvanicum) would be a poor choice for bows. Maybe arrows.

[blades7558]

pat b hit the nail on the head with what i meant . i have 4 halves that are over 7 feet long, sorry pat but i might try making a bow just for shits and giggles but good call with the arrow wood idea ive wanted to try and make self arrows for a while now... that might be a winter project....

[Pat B]

With the right design any wood will make a bow. It might be a good candidate for a backing. Brown grocery bag paper might be perfect.(seriously)  Make it wide and long...kinda like a Paul Comstock "over built" bow.

[youngbowyer33]

yea I agree it's not that good for bows.

[JW_Halverson]

Spalted maple, fom what I am told, is the result of a fungus growing in the wood.  Maybe the striping he is refering to is tiger striping, as in "curly maple".  If it is curly maple, he better get it sent to me for testing, might be a new flintlock stock in there somewhere.