Trad Gang

Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Deer Slayr on September 30, 2008, 10:57:00 PM

Title: What kind of wood for a selfbow???
Post by: Deer Slayr on September 30, 2008, 10:57:00 PM

I recently made my first selfbow out of pine. I was hoping for #50-55 at 28". I got about #24 at 28". Is this because I'm using pine or could there be other issues? If pine is a bad wood what wood would you guys recommend. Thanks for any help. Thanks Brandon

Title: Re: What kind of wood for a selfbow???
Post by: Mechslasher on October 01, 2008, 06:25:00 AM

osage is my favorite.  hickory would come in second but there are several woods out there that will make a bow.  if you are on a budget, go to lowes and buy a straight grained red oak board.  they make decent bows, not great but ok.  if you want osage, give gary davis a call.  he has roughed out osage self bow blanks.

Title: Re: What kind of wood for a selfbow???
Post by: John Scifres on October 01, 2008, 10:11:00 AM

I highly recommend getting the Traditional Bowyer's Bible Volume 1.  Many libraries have it.  Pine is not bow wood.  Use a hardwood and these instructions:    Ferret\\'s BoardBow Instructions (http://residents.bowhunting.net/sticknstring/brdbows.html)

Title: Re: What kind of wood for a selfbow???
Post by: Deer Slayr on October 01, 2008, 10:24:00 AM

Okay pine is definitly OUT so what kind of woods should I look for besides osage, hickory and red oak? I am not looking to make a very high quality bow, I am just wanting to make a simple bow that I can hunt and shoot 3d's with. Thanks for all your help. Brandon

P.S. Mechslasher, What kind of money am I looking at for osage self bow blanks like you were talking about?

Title: Re: What kind of wood for a selfbow???
Post by: ChristopherO on October 01, 2008, 11:08:00 AM

Osage, Hickory & Red Oak, just like they told you.  But you can also use mulberry, hackberry, ash, black locust, cherry, walnut, and the list goes on and on.  But each of these woods have their plus' and minus'.  As John Scrifes said above:  go to your local library and pick up the Traditional Bower's Bible #1 & 2 to get an idea what design works best with which wood species.  
It will shorten your learning curve.
A local saw mill can fix you up with nearly any of the woods mentioned above but a board will then have to be dried.  Red oak from Lowes or such will do in a pinch.

Title: Re: What kind of wood for a selfbow???
Post by: Deer Slayr on October 01, 2008, 03:27:00 PM

I will go to lowes soon and get a red oak board. Thanks for all your help

Title: Re: What kind of wood for a selfbow???
Post by: onemississipp on October 01, 2008, 04:51:00 PM

Here is a list of bow woods

 http://onemississipp.googlepages.com/bowwoods

Title: Re: What kind of wood for a selfbow???
Post by: Bjorn on October 01, 2008, 06:00:00 PM

Vine Maple! See if it grows in your area and go cut some down yourself.

Title: Re: What kind of wood for a selfbow???
Post by: Roy Steele on February 03, 2009, 09:58:00 AM

Any thing but pine.