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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: DDawg on August 23, 2015, 03:07:00 PM
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I'm in the early stages of learning how to build bows (mainly self bows for now). Currently I'm reading The Bowyers Bible vol. 1 and I think for my first bow I'm gonna build the 'So you wanna build a bow?'pyramid bow build along in the How to section of this forum.
I live in NW Georgia. Looking to the future of building self bows from local trees for personal use and gifts, what would be the best choice of local wood to use in making self bows? I'm thinking maybe Hickory or red cedar? We have plenty of those on our property.
Thanks
DD
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Hickory is an excellent bow wood. It is susceptive to moisture but keeping it in the A/C helps with that. Hard maple or elm is also good bow wood and should be in your area. ERC can be good bow wood but it can be very frustrating, especially for beginners.
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Mulberry makes a pretty good bow.
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I do like mulberry as well. And I think Pat is right on also. Especially regarding ERC. It's good bow wood if your an expert, otherwise avoid it like the plague.
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Flowering dogwood also makes a good bow.
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I really like hickory. You have to get it really dry, but if you do it will perform with anything.
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If you've got hickory....hickory it is! Great wood for a first bow. Post plenty of pictures as you progress and you'll get a good bow out of it.
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Osage is King! If you have access to Osage I would use it any day before hickory.
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Thanks for the Help!
On the build along for my first bow, I'm gonna do it exactly like the thread and use a 1x4x8 Red Oak board.
After going through our local Home Depot and Lowes is was able to find 1 acceptable piece of wood.
I still need to locate a band saw. I have limited shop space (my garage that I still park in). I am also a BeeKeeper and build all my own hive equipment, so i think I will just start with a new Cman 10" Band saw and keep my eye out for a good used 14" full size saw to eventually locate in a barn work shop at my inlaws.
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I can tell you that a 10" saw will verge on useless for cutting staves.
You don't need a bandsaw. I own one of the 9" saws and only use it for cutting small thin pieces like tip overlays. Do everything with hand tools on self bows and board bows.
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Yea Ben, I figured the 10" would be a waste for staves, But it will still work for board bows and bee hives. Luckily where I work has a physical plant with a nice full size jet band saw. They said I could stop by anytime to cut staves.
But I still plan on keeping my eye out for an old decent full size band saw.
I spent several months on the look out for an older model table saw with a cast iron table and wings and after a long time looking at CraigsList adds, I found the perfect saw in our neighborhood yard sale from a nice retired guy who recently moved in across the street.
He sold it to me for $100 :bigsmyl:
Thanks,
DD
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I own two Bandsaws but use a hatchet to shape my staves into blanks.I have more control with a very sharp hatchet.
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I have always wished I could rough out a stave with a hatchet. I have carpel tunnel, not bad enough to affect me day to day but shaping a stave with a hatchet will cause my hands to go to sleep at night for a week or so until the inflammation goes away. I guess I spent too much time behind a drawknife in my early osage collecting days, I pealed about 300 staves and did in my wrists.
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A table saw works fine to cut out a board bow. I use a hatchet to rough out staves (don't have a band saw), but get a lot of use out of my table saw ripping backers and roughing out board bows.
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Eric, it get's harder for me the older I get. The forearms give out a lot quicker, now. I've made only one board bow just to see what Tim Baker was happy about. I came to the conclusion he didn't have access to good Osage staves.
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For what is worth, I have been told the Pignut Hickory is best for selfbows. I have mostly Mockernut hickory in my area of Georgia and have made several bows. Cut a tree 4 to 6 inches in diameter in the summer months. The bark comes off easier in summer.
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If you have hickory don't worry about what specie it is. They are all good for bows,even pecan which is also a specie of hickory.