Trad Gang
Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: BEN on April 23, 2009, 02:51:00 PM
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Hey guys, I need some advice here.
My first attempt at bow making ended with a splinter in the lower limb bamboo. I have some pics posted in "Powwow", thread: "CRACK!".
Now, I don't have any more osage handy, but I do have a large Cherry tree and maple tree that blew down over the winter in my small woods. From what I can see, the cherry has some beautiful heartwood and I'm wondering if that would make a good bow? Also, what a bout the maple---not sure of the type?
Thanks
ben
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CHERRY, black .50. Diffuse-porous. Grows tall and straight. A “bright” wood, taking little set, and probably having less hysterisis/returning less sluggishly than any other common bowwood. Cherry is so light and brash it’s almost too touchy for bow wood, but once made, a cherry bow is unusually sweet and fast shooting. If the stave tree was smaller than about 5” in diameter or bow limbs wider than 2” it’s best to decrown. A thin, properly applied rawhide backing makes cherry as safe as any unbacked wood. On the other hand, Paul Rodgers, a nearby bowmaking friend, made a lumberyard board bow, about 64” by about 1 ½”, about 55lb at 28”. It’s still shooting after several years of use, still surprisingly straight-limbed and fast. This bow represents the good extreme. Sapwood takes more set in compression than heartwood.
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If the maple is Sugar(Hard) Maple it should make a fine bow.