I'm considering ordering a hackberry stave from pinehollow. I have never used it before is there anything I should know about hackberry before I start?
Would it be considered a white wood?
If so s the back of the bow directly under the bark like other white woods?

I am planning on making it about 66" long. What is the suggested width for a 55# hackberry bow at this length?

I'd give Mike a call, he'd be glad to help ya.

Lee--Have used Hackberry quite often and have had good results with it.  It is easy to get in central Kansas, and is usually very straight.  It is a white wood and should be treated as.  If harvested when the sap is running the bark will pull off easly and then you have the back of the bow.  If harvested in late summer or winter I drawknife the bark of to the cambium and them scrape and sand the cambium until I get a mottled look that looks like camo when stained.  Make sure the wood is dry and set can be kept to a minimum, if you will have any at all.  Makes a good bow.  I like it better than ash.  Lots lighter than hickory.  Coach

I've made a few hackberry bows.And coach said it all.All my bows were in the 55 to 62 pound range.All of my bows turned out good.

Thanks guys! And I did give Mike Yancy a call. I'm ordering a stave next week. After hearing all the good things about it, i'm excited to get started.

My first shoot-able bow I made out of hackberry. It was a learning experience and turned out too light and also lost it's tiller(my fault). One thing I really liked about it though. I applied brown leather die to it and, man, you talk about bringing out the beauty of the rings and grain, it really did the trick! Very nice looking wood after some die or stain is applied.