self bows

[calgarychef1]

I've been looking at makinga self bow lately. Some people suggest that saskatoon makes good wood. I went out this week and cut a stave and was amazed at the slow growth of saskatoon. A piece slightly smaller than 2 inches was about 25 years old!! Does anyone here know anything about using this wood for bows, or are there some sites that specifically mention saskatoon wood? I'm not finding too much info out there, any help would be appreciated. By the way the stave I cut is still green and I can hardly bend it with all my weight, I wonder what it will be like dry. I think I'll go cut a few more, maybe a few smaller ones too for future fun.

The chef

[toxo1cjb]

harder then you think....To do it right it takes about 6 months or more to do it right!!!!

[ifalls_archer]

Try cutting something larger diameter. Small diameter staves make for high crowned backs. These can be challenging for beginners. Find a 4-6" and split in half to make two staves, 5-8" and quarter. If you can find it, iron wood (hophornbeam) works great. Any questions I may answer, just post or PM me at ifalls_archer@yahoo.com.

[WOOKIE]

Chef, I have a oak board bow in progress right now and also have staves for a couple of yew long bows, graciously donated to me by one of our members. It is lots of fun!

[Ducker]

I have three Maple self board bows in progress. I went to a lumber yard and picked out a nice 2 x 8 maple board with a good crown, cut it into three peices (length wise and and went to work on it shaping them into bows. They are fun to make, but they do take a long time and patients.

Ken

[petew]

How about some pictures of the bows in progress.
Lots of us would like to see a build along.

[hardluck59]

You guys might like this one http://bowyersworkshop.com/auctionbow1.htm

[GILLY]

I've been planning on doing up some saskatoon bows. I can't see why it would'nt be good. I sinewback my bows for the "insurance". I made an ash flatbow a few years ago and backed it with elk sinew. The handle cracked and I wrapped it with sinew as a repair job. I can draw this thing 30 inches and it pulls at about 60+ pounds, sinew is an awesome material. I do have some self bows but they all have string follow, sinew backing has string follow after shooting but goes away after a while.

I also have hazelnut, black locust and black birch self bows, all nice and easy shooting. I'll surely post some pics of a saskatoon stave once I find some good wood.

[Dillershortbow]

If any of you alberta bowman want a yew wood bow stave let me know its a long way off but i will be coming to The mother of all shoots next march so let me know i will bring some out . I don`t want anything for them maybe apiece of diamond willow let me know.

[calgarychef1]

I'd love a stave or two, I have some nice diamond willow to trade. or could trade some large saskatoon staves that I have been drying.

the chef

[Dillershortbow]

Right now i have know interest in building a bow but wood like some diamond willow. I have a bunch of yew wood green mind you . But it just grows free on the mountain. I have two kids in calgary so i come out once in a while.