Hey Gang,

I'm thinking about taking the plunge and trying to make a self bow from a tree I cut.

The vast majority of the trees available to me are North american beech and sugar maple....with an occasional cherry thrown in.

I've read it can be hard to find a straight beech....but if I did..
What would you go with ....Sugar maple or NA Beech?

Thanks

Hard to believe that either Sugar maple or Beech is all thats available in your parts...?    :rolleyes:  

I would definitely go with sugar maple.

I'm just talking available to ME...as in I OWN.
Sure there are lots of other types in the area..but not in MY area.

My vote would be maple too.  
Check out Gordon's Vine Maple build on PA website if you haven't already.  Very cool build.

I dont know beech but sugar maple can make a very quick bow with the right design as long as it isnt over streesed under built  great tension and moderate compretion wood !

THANKS FOR THE REPLIES THUS FAR.

That is a good buildalong..just getting into it..will take a bit to digest. Thanks Bmorv

You must have hop hornbeam if you have any variety of beech around, they grow near each other quite often. Maple is okay, but not as good as elm or HHB.

Both will make good bows but hard maple would probably be better.

Beech tends to be a little brittle.