OK, I think I've pretty much read everything there is to read regarding self-bowyery over the last 5 or 6 years, but I have yet to take the plunge.
I have a bit of a dilemma right now; I have 2 staves to start on & I don't know which of the 2 would be the most suitable.
Number 1 is a 69" Black locust. No knots, shakes, cracks, splits or weirdness other than it's not totally straight, OR
Number 2, a 72½" Hackberry. No knots or other faults & pretty much totally straight.
Both have good late to early growth, wide rings (the BL is 9 per inch, the Hackberry is 14 rings per inch)
As far as I understand it (although I've been wrong before) Hackberry is more forgiving to work, BL makes for a faster, more resilient bow.
My target weight & drawlength is 45# - 75# at 31"
I'm thinking a simple Pyramid style bow may be the easiest to begin with, but I'm totally open to advice on that!
I have zero experience at this, but I'm a pretty quick learner & way too ambitious!
What would y'all suggest?
Rob, I'd say the hackberry even though I've not worked any yet. Locust can be finiky and, at least for me, it frets badly. Learn on the whitewood then go to the locust.
Bring it to the Classic and we'll figure out what the stave wants to be. It is a lot easier going along than trying to fight it. You'll never win trying to fight it. d;^)
I like your draw weight range too. We might just hit that barn.
If you've waited 5-6 years to make a bow n your heading to the classic....then it should be easy to just wait another few weeks and bring both staves down for an "expert" to look at it and help you out firsthand....nothing even comes close to firsthand help when learning how to make woods bows..that's my two cents ;)
Stop thinking and start whittling. I'd go with hackberry first. Don't worry about making your first bows great. Just make them shoot and learn how to tiller.
Rob, go with the hackberry first. Black locust isn't the easiest wood for beginners, but it will definitely teach you along the way. Get to the classic and you will have all the help you need and ill bring you another stave to work before you tackle the locust I sent you. ( which hit the mail first thing yesterday morning, but remember it is still green. ) I'm heading to ny farm this weekend and will pick you something good for a first timer, although the hackberry is a pretty good beginner wood.
Dave
Rob
Come up to my place some weekend and I will help you make a great osage selfbow. You can stay at our house. Hackberry and BL are good for practice. Osage makes bows.
Mike