Thread: Bow Maker

Check out our market place timber section, there is some OO listed for sale, considered the best for bows.

Siege

Welcome to the forums.

As well as the market place as, Neil suggested, you might like to "ask" in the timber milling section if they ever come across those species. The mobile millers may be more likely to cut such timbers. Those timbers, I imagine, are normally one-offs and not commercially viable for timber mills.

Regards
Paul

Siege,
Welcome to the forum.
I have made a few bows over the years and spent long frustrating days searching for the woods you mention. While they are nearly all grown as garden trees here they are rare and hard to find. Your best bet would to get to know a few tree loppers and have them keep an eye out for the bits you want. A very commom garden tree robinia is really good and is called locust in the USA where it is a favourite bow wood. It is almost as good as osage. The one in the pics is about 50# and has taken no set at all after a few years of shooting.
I got yew from canada a few times but shipping is as much as the wood. Osage can be found sometimes but still rare here.
There is better news however as a few local woods make good bows. Ironbark is really good. Spotted Gum is ok and Black Wattle is good. There are most likely plenty more if anyone wants to experiment.
Anyhow good luck with the wood hunt.
Regards
John

Another local timber that makes good bows is Lancewood (acacia shirleyii). A recent article in the Australian Woodworker about making a bow used a piece of Lancewood I supplied myself as part of a 3-way trade (it's complicated and involves a Flamenco guitar! )

Originally Posted by TTIT

Another local timber that makes good bows is Lancewood (acacia shirleyii). A recent article in the Australian Woodworker about making a bow used a piece of Lancewood I supplied myself as part of a 3-way trade (it's complicated and involves a Flamenco guitar! )

Ho Ho Ho, so can we expect a few tunes on said guitar at this years Prossie Turnout,only 6 months away and counting,
regards,
Crocy.

Originally Posted by Old Croc

Ho Ho Ho, so can we expect a few tunes on said guitar at this years Prossie Turnout,only 6 months away and counting,
regards,
Crocy.

Mate I can't even play the triangle!!! - all I get out of the deal is a ute full of hairy oak

Originally Posted by TTIT

Mate I can't even play the triangle!!! - all I get out of the deal is a ute full of hairy oak

When did you say you wanted me to come down with my truck AND my trailer.

I believe that Silver Ash makes the best bows. I know that the wood has plenty of spring in it. I also have sold some SA to someone who made bows a few years ago.