WA bow woods?

[HillSlick]

     Hey guys just a quick question,

What are some wood types In Western WA that can be used for a decent bow? And how can I tell them apart?
   The only one I know of or have used is apple wood, makes really good bows surprisingly. But I'd really appreciate the help, lookin for a little variety, and Google isn't really making it As easy as I'd figured it would. God bless all

[jackelope]

Pacific Yew

[billythekidrock]

Pacific Yew

Ditto!

[RadSav]

Black Locust wood is one of my favorite NW available woods.  Though, like yew, it needs to be aged and dried in a very specific manner to produce the best results.  Kiln dried woods do ok, but getting wood seasoned properly from someone like Jay St. Charles or John Strunk is always better.  I think Jay or John would be willing to share the proper way to age and dry these NW varieties.  You can also purchase Jay's father's book "BILLETS TO BOW" from his sister at nwachery.com

http://www.nwarchery.com/books-and-magazines/

[HillSlick]

Interesting, I've never heard of using a kiln, maybe I've just been under a rock for too long, lol. Thanks guys!

[Special T]

I have not made my first bow yet, however has shot and talked to Curt Brisky from ferndale. The 3 common woods in our area are Pacific yew, Vine Maple, and Ocean Spray, The hardest part of Vine maple is finding a pice 5-6ft long that is straight. IF you find a piece that runs horizontal mark the top side for future use. (it has natural tension) I was told to cut you wood a little long IN THE WINTERTIME when the sap is not flowing. Paint or wax the ends and store at ambient temp in you home to cure, takes about 6months to a year to get a good cure. Hope that helps.

[Old Dog]

Ash and Big leaf maple will also make a pretty good bow, but pacific yew is the best. 

[Pacific]

The Traditional Bowyers Bible has lots of good info. There are 3 or 4 volumes of it. It seems most any wood will make a decent bow....if the right design is used for the particular properties of the wood. Some, like pine, would require an extremely wide bow...so wide as to be impractical 

According to the books Cherry will make a decent bow, too. I tried it once, because I had some....didn't work out for me.....but probably my lack of skill more than anything.

[HillSlick]

Thanks guys ya'll rock, the Bowyers Bible? Do you think I could find it at sportsman or sportco?

[RadSav]

Thanks guys ya'll rock, the Bowyers Bible? Do you think I could find it at sportsman or sportco?

I'd be surprised if you found it locally.  I'd try Lancaster Archery or 3 Rivers Archery online.  The first edition should be available rather easy.  If looking for the others I think you will find it easier to buy the complete four volume set.  Don't buy it from Amazon!  Last I saw Amazon wanted more for a single book than Lancaster did for the complete set.  Lancaster is generally cheaper, 3 Rivers usually has a better traditional book selection and better service.

[HillSlick]

Thanks guys ya'll rock, the Bowyers Bible? Do you think I could find it at sportsman or sportco?

I'd be surprised if you found it locally.  I'd try Lancaster Archery or 3 Rivers Archery online.  The first edition should be available rather easy.  If looking for the others I think you will find it easier to buy the complete four volume set.  Don't buy it from Amazon!  Last I saw Amazon wanted more for a single book than Lancaster did for the complete set.  Lancaster is generally cheaper, 3 Rivers usually has a better traditional book selection and better service.

Ok I'll start at Lancaster then, thanks man. Really appreciate the help

[TONTO]

 Bumping back up. As mention yew(good luck on that one), black locust and vine maple are all exolent bow woods. Hazelnut will also make a great bow too, as well as pacific dogwood. Don't overlook some of the fruit trees, apple, plumb, cherry and pear are all good bow woods. I have a Japanese pear curing, thats some pretty heavy stuff. Madrone will make a bow but will check realy bad if not taken care of right away. Gary Oak, a sub species of white oak, is a native west side wood with good properties, I have also read that ScottsBroom will make a good bow but I have yet to find one large enough for a self bow, it will make a good billet bow if you want a takedown though.

https://sites.google.com/site/onemississipp/bowwoods

[HillSlick]

Bumping back up. As mention yew(good luck on that one), black locust and vine maple are all exolent bow woods. Hazelnut will also make a great bow too, as well as pacific dogwood. Don't overlook some of the fruit trees, apple, plumb, cherry and pear are all good bow woods. I have a Japanese pear curing, thats some pretty heavy stuff. Madrone will make a bow but will check realy bad if not taken care of right away. Gary Oak, a sub species of white oak, is a native west side wood with good properties, I have also read that ScottsBroom will make a good bow but I have yet to find one large enough for a self bow, it will make a good billet bow if you want a takedown though.

https://sites.google.com/site/onemississipp/bowwoods

I've been playing around with scottsbroom quite a bit, dried and carved on a bit it's pretty good stuff. I haven't gotten hold of any of the other woods though. Scottsbroom  grows EVERYWHERE here.

[JLS]

Bumping back up. As mention yew(good luck on that one), black locust and vine maple are all exolent bow woods. Hazelnut will also make a great bow too, as well as pacific dogwood. Don't overlook some of the fruit trees, apple, plumb, cherry and pear are all good bow woods. I have a Japanese pear curing, thats some pretty heavy stuff. Madrone will make a bow but will check realy bad if not taken care of right away. Gary Oak, a sub species of white oak, is a native west side wood with good properties, I have also read that ScottsBroom will make a good bow but I have yet to find one large enough for a self bow, it will make a good billet bow if you want a takedown though.

https://sites.google.com/site/onemississipp/bowwoods

I've been playing around with scottsbroom quite a bit, dried and carved on a bit it's pretty good stuff. I haven't gotten hold of any of the other woods though. Scottsbroom  grows EVERYWHERE here.

Given how fast it grows, I wouldn't think this would make a very good bow wood.  It's been a long time since I carved on it as a kid, but I don't remember it being all that hard and dense. 

[Hornseeker]

Vine Maple can be great, and dont forget you dont need a piece 72" long... you only need a good piece about 3' long... split it in half and and again... and you z splice them together to get one piece 72" long... you can even build a little reflex into your bow that way. When you splice two pieces together like that to make a stave, they are called billets.

Anyhow... chokecherry... and juniper can be real good too... Saskatoon... Mountain Ash... The black locust spoken of would be great for sure. Of course, Yew is tops... but not the easiest of the bunch to procure or build a bow with!

Good Luck!

[HillSlick]

I've been looking for Ash and juniper but I haven't been able to find any in my area :-/

The Scittsbroom isn't very dense but it BERY elastic, especially after it's dried for a while

[HillSlick]

"Scottsbroom"
"VERY"

[Snapshot]

Cascara and Indian Plum haven't been mentioned and both make bows; the plum better than the cascara. I wouldn't trust big leaf maple... Volume #1 of the Bowyers Bible is the one to get if you can only get one.

[HillSlick]

Cascara and Indian Plum haven't been mentioned and both make bows; the plum better than the cascara. I wouldn't trust big leaf maple... Volume #1 of the Bowyers Bible is the one to get if you can only get one.

Never worked with either, I've seen plumb tho, pretty stuff

[GregE]

If you use Cascara  don't lick it....    also called Chittum

[pd]

I have as much crapwood (Black Locust) as you might want. Come cut it please. Hate it.

Oh, lots of Gorst (Scotch Broom), too.

[RadSav]

I have as much crapwood (Black Locust) as you might want. Come cut it please. Hate it.

Traditional guys should score on that offer!  Great stuff

[HillSlick]

I have as much crapwood (Black Locust) as you might want. Come cut it please. Hate it.

Oh, lots of Gorst (Scotch Broom), too.

Hm well I may take you up on that some time


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