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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Bear Heart on December 29, 2008, 10:16:00 PM

Title: Pacific NW woods
Post by: Bear Heart on December 29, 2008, 10:16:00 PM

What woods in western washington would be good for a selfbow other than yew.  Most of the woods I hear guys making bows out of don't grow here.

Title: Re: Pacific NW woods
Post by: Diamondback59 on December 29, 2008, 10:35:00 PM

vine maple,  choke cherry, dogwood,mtn oak there s a bunch up there

Title: Re: Pacific NW woods
Post by: elkslayer on December 29, 2008, 11:04:00 PM

Ocean Spray is also a great one. The best by far is vine maple as it grows here like a weed.

Title: Re: Pacific NW woods
Post by: Bear Heart on December 29, 2008, 11:40:00 PM

I just saw a post with a cedar bow.  Anyone try it before?

Title: Re: Pacific NW woods
Post by: Crimson mist on December 30, 2008, 05:48:00 AM

vine maple is tops but we have ash and oak everywhere as well as large leaf maple and black locust to name a few

Title: Re: Pacific NW woods
Post by: Bear Heart on December 30, 2008, 02:09:00 PM

I need to get a book on northwest trees so that I can pick them out.  Any recommendations?

Title: Re: Pacific NW woods
Post by: Bear Heart on December 30, 2008, 02:14:00 PM

Also, can my 12 foot tall christmas tree make a bow for a 2 year old?

Title: Re: Pacific NW woods
Post by: P.W.Smith on December 31, 2008, 12:03:00 PM

you guys forgot a good one...Cascara. It's supposed to make a great bow wood (I haven't tried it yet - still looking for a good stave to cut)...but from all I've heard its supposed to be better than Vine Maple (at least more yew-like) in bend strength and elasticity...and on top of that its fairly common!!!
Derek