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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: DonLee on January 03, 2025, 03:58:07 PM

Title: source for wood bow building ?
Post by: DonLee on January 03, 2025, 03:58:07 PM

Let me say Thankyou for letting me join !! Ive been reading the last few days . excellent information. I was wondering where you guys buy your wood to cut your own lams? Im going to take the plunge. I figured Im going to start by making my own tapered lams and hopefully veneers. If I can concentrate on that till i get it down I can move on . I really would like to try maple , hickory and bamboo lams . I want to try to make some asl/Hill style longbows. I willbe building jigs and building a drum sander. I have some tools. Tablesaw, drill press, belt/disc sander, hand belt sander, files, draw knife, card scaper, etc from building board bows. It might take me a while and quite a bit of material to get the hang of it, but Im stubborn , lol. I would love to be able to buy localy . I thought I could buy some of the big box store just for learning and save the good stuff for when I get better.thanks in advance !! edit , what are the sizes you normally buy for lams? full length and 36ers?

Title: Re: source for wood bow building ?
Post by: Pine on January 03, 2025, 05:07:53 PM

Welcome from Sparta Michigan  :wavey:
A lot of talented and knowledgeable people here.

Title: Re: source for wood bow building ?
Post by: mmattockx on January 04, 2025, 10:00:01 AM

Welcome new guy.

You can certainly start with boards from the big box stores and go from there. Hard maple makes excellent core lams, just get the straightest grain you can with the fewest knots. You will quickly find that is an expensive way to buy wood, so start looking for local lumber yards and dealers to buy larger boards/pieces. I often see small sawmills/lumber dealers advertising in classifieds like craigslist and similar, so look there for local sources as well.


Mark

Title: Re: source for wood bow building ?
Post by: Jeff Freeman on January 04, 2025, 02:54:41 PM

I get some woods from Bell Forest in Michigan. I go to the  hand pick. You buy what the picture is. So get exactly what you see.  JF

Title: Re: source for wood bow building ?
Post by: Kirkll on January 05, 2025, 11:54:43 PM

https://www.google.com/search?q=exotic+hardwoods+in+michigan&rlz=1C9BKJA_enUS764US764&oq=exotic+hardwoods+in+michigan&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCTExODY1ajBqN6gCCrACAeIDBBgBIF8&hl=en-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#ebo=0

Welcome to the rabbit hole…. Kirk