Finding a nice piece of wood online is a big P.I.A.!
I've Googled for days and the problem is most places I find don't have a pic of the piece of wood you are interested in or it's not big enough.

Am having a new bow built and I was really set on Macassar Ebony but the Bowery is warning me against it because it's so hard to get it stable and it shrinks which I've been through before, so now am up in arms with which wood to go with. I'd like something medium brown with black streaking and I think what ever I go with for the main wood it will be footed with wenge. I'm looking into the rosewoods right now..Bolivian seems to be close to the look am searching for. Maybe some pau ferro. Actually aren't those the same wood?

Any ideas or sources would be greatly appreciated.

Oh yeah it's a Whippenstick Hellfire

TIA
   

Edit: Not interested in Cocobolo or Ziricote and Kingwood is out for the same reasons as the Ebony

You can check with Kent Tinney at Plenty Coups Archery.  He goes by Wapiti on this site, really great person who stocks riser blocks.

Might take a look at Plenty Coups Archery.  They sell some nice woods in riser sizes.  Glimmer Hardwoods has pics of the actual board, only draw back is a minimum order $100 I think, that shouldn't be a problem with Mac ebony it ain't cheap.

see pm

The Wood and Shop

Nice guy to deal with and pretty good selection.

A good one...

http://www.cookwoods.com/LumberPageMain.htm

Kenny is a sponsor.  http://www.kennyscustomarchery.com/index.html

Mike is just a good guy that is a member.and he has LOTS of wood
http://rosewoodarchery.com/

Mike, I don't know how you will top the pretty woods in your blacktail! I'm sure someone will hook you up though.

QuoteMike, I don't know how you will top the pretty woods in your blacktail!

You know I had to sell her a while back due to severe $$$ issues but luckily am back on my feet and the Tradgang member(limbow) who bought it has graciously agreed to sell it back to me. My baby will be back home in a couple weeks or so.
  :D

Thx for the leads everyone keep em coming.

No minimum order. Out of myrtle and ebony. PM me what you are looking for. You can call me too 406-203-4398 Tues-Sat.

Theres "that wood" with the different names, ovangkol, shedua, amazouke, black hyedua. Its got great streaks of black on a orangey brown back ground. Not to mention its fast and quiet.

www.binghamprojects.com

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Kevin Osworth (Limbow) is a terrific guy, so I am not surprised he would do such a wonderful thing as selling you back your Blacktail.

I have a couple of bows that have "Texas Ebony" in the risers. It is not a true ebony, and is more akin to bocote, as I understand it, but it sure looks good -- at least the pieces that are in my bows!

Allan

Mike, I have used Macassar Ebony as riser wood in my longbows for near on twenty years and have never experienced any problems whatsoever with it. Beautiful wood!!!

Jeff

Mike,
I love Macassar. God willing I will receive my new Snakebit in less than 10 days. It will be Macassar in the flares (riser foots). I also love the black woods with streaks of brown, that's why I chose Macassar over Gaboon.

Like Jeff wrote above, the bowyers who work with these woods known its pecularities and are expert at working with it. I have no fear about it at all.

Yep call Mike at Rosewood Archery. Picking out your woods makes a truly custom bow IMO.

www.rosewoodarchery.com

Be careful when using ebony. It is brittle and if cut too thin can fracture causing real problems. Example would be in the throat of the grip when laminated to other pieces. If your riser design depends on strength from the ebony the slight flexing in the riser could cause a mishap. Still an excellent riser wood and beautiful.

KT

Texas Ebony ain't half bad...

 

Hey Charlie have you been to the Wood & shop since he moved to Eolia.  Bruce is a good guy I used to work there part time when it was in Hazelwood.