Author Topic: Bow wood question.  (Read 2940 times)

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Offline Night Hawk

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Bow wood question.
« on: October 04, 2013, 01:41:34 am »
Has anyone made a bow from Giant Chinkapin? http://owic.oregonstate.edu/giant-chinkapin-castanopsis-chrysophylla  (not to be confused with the chinkapin oak from the eastern U.S.)

While driving around in the hills today I found a stand of wonderfully straight trees about 8-12" in diameter and it made me wonder if it would make a good bow.

Offline Joec123able

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Re: Bow wood question.
« Reply #1 on: October 04, 2013, 01:54:00 am »
Well from what I'm reading, it's on the softer wood side and most probably wouldn't recommend it but if I were you I'd atleast try since I'm sure no one else has.
I like osage

Offline JackCrafty

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  • Sorry Officer, I was just gathering "materials".
Re: Bow wood question.
« Reply #2 on: October 04, 2013, 02:17:47 am »
Specific gravity of .48 looks good enough for me.  If it bends easily with heat or steam it would definitely be a good friend of mine...  ;D
Any critter tastes good with enough butter on it.

Patrick Blank
Midland, Texas
Youtube: JackCrafty, Allergic Hobbit, Patrick Blank

Where's Rock? Public Waterways, Road Cuts, Landscape Supply, Knap-Ins.
How to Cook It?  200° for 24hrs then 275° to 500° for 4hrs (depending on type), Cool for 12hr

Offline BowEd

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Re: Bow wood question.
« Reply #3 on: October 04, 2013, 05:45:27 am »
The way it sounds 66" long 2" wide might get ya 50# bow.
BowEd
You got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.
Ed

Offline DLH

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Re: Bow wood question.
« Reply #4 on: October 04, 2013, 09:49:09 am »
Sounds really similar to chestnut with the catkins and nuts. Really interesting that it's an evergreen too.

Offline burn em up chuck

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Re: Bow wood question.
« Reply #5 on: October 04, 2013, 11:16:22 am »
   try it and see, what a rare opportunity

                        chuck
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Offline Carson (CMB)

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Re: Bow wood question.
« Reply #6 on: October 04, 2013, 11:36:00 am »
I wondered the same thing, so I cut one this past summer.  I pealed the bark and sealed it up.  I havent started in on it, but I can say it is some pretty wood. 
"The bow is the old first lyre,
the mono chord, the initial rune of fine art
The humanities grew out from archery as a flower from a seed
No sooner did the soft, sweet note of the bow-string charm the ear of genius than music was born, and from music came poetry and painting and..." Maurice Thompso

Offline paoliguy

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Re: Bow wood question.
« Reply #7 on: October 04, 2013, 02:16:06 pm »
I know very little about this but I met a fellow camping at Cloverdale last year who had a bow he said was Chinkapin. I remember it simply because I had never heard of Chinkapin before. It was long and wide as I recall and a real looker. I didn't get to see it shoot but he said he was happy with it and I figure that's all that matters since it's his bow! So if the bow I saw was truly Chinkapin then yes, you can make a bow from it. Hope you are as pleased with yours as the gentleman I met was with his!