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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: 1oldbowguy on February 14, 2011, 11:07:00 PM

Title: Dogwood, any good for a bow?
Post by: 1oldbowguy on February 14, 2011, 11:07:00 PM
:help:   I have never seen or found anything about building a bow out of dogwood.  Anyone out there know if it is any good for bows?  Also how about Sycamore?  Just wondering.   :dunno:    :dunno:
Title: Re: Dogwood, any good for a bow?
Post by: Living_waters on February 14, 2011, 11:43:00 PM
Greg bagwell of clarksville TN has a dogwood self bow that made bow of the month last month in Primitive archer. 65 inch 1 1/2 at fades 55lbs.

I have seen a 60lb ELB from a sycamore sapling.

There both on my bucket list
Title: Re: Dogwood, any good for a bow?
Post by: Brently on February 15, 2011, 12:18:00 AM
I have a Pacific Dogwood wood bow I made in a Raptor archery bow class.  It makes a very good bow.
Title: Re: Dogwood, any good for a bow?
Post by: b.glass on February 15, 2011, 08:55:00 AM
Dogwood is one of the heavier woods. I've always thought it would make a good bow. Do you have some dogwood that's suitable?
Title: Re: Dogwood, any good for a bow?
Post by: No-sage on February 15, 2011, 09:03:00 AM
Dogwood is very hard.  It will check easily, so you have to be ready to seal it when you cut it and be prepared to dry it slowly.  It was historically used for wooden rotating machine parts.

The best way to check any unknown wood for bowmaking is to measure it's specific gravity.  Use the results for determining what type of bow you can make from it.
Title: Re: Dogwood, any good for a bow?
Post by: 1oldbowguy on February 15, 2011, 11:03:00 AM
Thanks to all, I will get it all sealed up and put aside, got more I can cut so I think I will.
Title: Re: Dogwood, any good for a bow?
Post by: DanaM on February 15, 2011, 12:09:00 PM
Flowering Dogwood will make a good bow it also makes good billets for knapping. Don't know about other varieties of dogwood.