Bow wood choices???

[Jakesnyder]

I'm looking for a new bow wood to try. Is there any white wood that doesnt have the spongy slow feeling that hickory can have. I'm partial to bendy handle shorter bows. (Mostly because of half-eye) maybe some heartwood. I love osage it's just so expensive to feed my bow building addiction?

[bassman]

Might try Black Locust.Make it a little wider than Osage,and sinew backed, and belly heat treated makes a very good bow.Sounds like your hickory is not dry enough to begin with or it is gathering un wanted moisture some how.I  probably have a dozen hanging on a wall in my house year round ,and they are any thing but spongy.Were do you live,and were are you storing your bows? In dry areas of the our country it is a very sought after wood by many  good bow makers.

[SLIMBOB]

The list is a long one, and regional in nature, but for me, few white woods are much better than Hackberry and it's a big weed for most, so easy to find, plentiful and not a desirable landscape feature for most.  Toast the belly and it's as good as any white wood.

[Jakesnyder]

I'm in south west pa. I store them in my garage. The spongy I'm talking about is how the limbs arnt as snappy as say osage. But I guess that's to be expected. Osage has spoiled me I guess. Anyone know of any good stave sources?

[Wally44]

How would you go about toasting the limbs

[bassman]

Jake, three years ago I gave the neighbor boy a hickory bow that turned out with less than an inch of set. I told him to store it under his bed.He didn,t. Two months later we shot the bows together in my back yard, and his limbs turned to noodles. He had his stored in his garage also.Ruined the bow.I live 50 miles north of Pittburgh, Pa. so we live in the same environment.Keep hickory bows inside unless you are hunting with them or shooting them.Good luck and take care.

[SLIMBOB]

Use a heat gun to “toast” the belly. The term being an accurate description. Heated until it darkens the wood.

[Hrothgar]

As previously mentioned hackberry is a great light weight wood, it is easy to recurve the limbs with also. Another white wood you might check out is elm.

[airkah]

I also really enjoy hackberry. Needs to be a lot wider than osage or hickory though.

[Deerhunter21]

white oak is unbreakable

[burchett.donald]

   Jake, get your hands on some Ironwood...Hophornbeam has all the snap you can handle...
                                                                                                                                         Don

[chamookman]

Another vote for HHB  . Bob

[Jakesnyder]

Anyone know where I can get some?

[dylanholderman]

Just adding another wood to the list, look for honeysuckle bush(Amur honeysuckle) it’s a invasive weed but it’ll make a good bow if you can find a big enough piece, and that should be easier sense you like short bendy handle bows

[bjrogg]

Hop Hornbeam is a good bow. I like its performance. It's not as forgiving as Osage. Isn't as easily manipulated by heat as Osage. Takes more elbow grease than Osage. Does make a snappy bow though.
I have a piece of Hackberry I think I got from Dylan in supply trade a few years ago I need to give a try. Maybe next winter.
Bjrogg