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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Cuban Missile on November 14, 2010, 04:59:00 PM

Title: Tropical wood?
Post by: Cuban Missile on November 14, 2010, 04:59:00 PM
Hey guys, im relatively new here but anyways I have moved down to costa rica for 4 months and i am missing my bow like crazy!  I was wondering if anyone knew of any good tropical wood for bows.  There has to be!  Thanks!
Title: Re: Tropical wood?
Post by: Chris Grimbowyer on November 14, 2010, 05:01:00 PM
Lemonwood
Title: Re: Tropical wood?
Post by: Don Stokes on November 14, 2010, 05:12:00 PM
Also called Degame.
Title: Re: Tropical wood?
Post by: rainman on November 14, 2010, 07:03:00 PM
Coco Bola, snakewood, greenwood, common names may be different in Costa Rica
Title: Re: Tropical wood?
Post by: Danny Rowan on November 14, 2010, 07:38:00 PM
I think what he is looking for is a type of wood to make a selfbow, if so guava is one that makes a great selfbow. Other than that I have no idea.
Title: Re: Tropical wood?
Post by: Pat B on November 14, 2010, 10:35:00 PM
Danny is right! I have made a few bows from strawberry guava and it is an exceptional bow wood.
Title: Re: Tropical wood?
Post by: Cuban Missile on November 15, 2010, 04:16:00 PM
Thanks Guys! I'm off to search for a guava trees.  

Pat B.  what should I use sap, heart or both?  Also what would be best for the belly.  

I'm sure my questions are showing my ignorance, but at this   moment I DON'T CARE I JUST NEED A BOW!  :)  

Thanks again!
Title: Re: Tropical wood?
Post by: Pat B on November 15, 2010, 04:48:00 PM
My guava stave came from Hawaii and had been reduced to save on shipping. It looked to me like guava is like a whitewood and the wood right under the bark is your bows back. I made both a flat bow and an ELB style bow, both worked well. Guava seems to like a rounded belly like osage or ipe.