Will this hick make a bow?

k-hat · April 18, 2011, 10:52:00 PM

Got a perty piece of hickory board leftover from another project, looks plainsawn partly thru the heartwood. i know hickory bows should primarily come from the sapwood, but this sure would make a nice looking stick if it did work. doesn't fit the typical description of board bow grain etc, but i figured i'd let the experts tell me for sure

Might just use it in pieces for risers and such. here are pics:

Thanks for any input!!
-Kevin

fujimo · April 18, 2011, 11:45:00 PM

i have heard of guys using the heartwood- it is better in compression than the sapwood- so would make a good belly section for the bow- you would only get one bow out- down the center of the board though.
board looks good to me- from what i can see!

see what everyone else says!!

k-hat · April 19, 2011, 07:34:00 AM

Thanks for the input! I hadn't heard about the heartwood being better in compression. Hey, one bow out of it would be fine with me!! :D

okie64 · April 19, 2011, 08:40:00 AM

Looks like to me you could get 2 bows from that board. Sapwood or heartwood doesnt really matter with hickory. I've made good bows from sapwood, heartwood, or both on the same bow. Heres a pic of one thats 1/2 heartwood 1/2 sapwood on the belly lam.

fujimo · April 19, 2011, 08:43:00 AM

it is quite often the case, where the sapwood is better in tension, and the heartwood better in compression- so ,obviously leave the sapwood on- that will be the back of the bow.
2" wide out to mid limb, then taper to 1/2" tips from there, for hickory works really well.
read comstocks, "the bent stick".
g'luck
wayne

fujimo · April 19, 2011, 08:45:00 AM

whoops- looks like we posted at the same time- i defer to greater experience- that bow of okies is beautiful, maybe try for two bows then.
have fun.
wayne

k-hat · April 19, 2011, 10:44:00 AM

Okie,
So you said "on the belly lam", so was this a backed bow, or a laminate bow? I was/am a little concerned about the ring orientation on the sapwood side, doesn't run parallel to sides, looks more like a topographic map of hill country! Beautiful bow by the way!!

okie64 · April 19, 2011, 04:49:00 PM

Yes Kevin that bow has a hickory backing and cherry core in it, but that piece on the belly lam would have worked just as good for the back IMO. I've heard people say the sapwood is stronger in tension and that may be true but I have never been able to tell the difference. I think you're referring to the run-ups on the grain when you say it looks like a topo map. Hickory almost always has really thin rings and thats why you see all the runups in the middle of a plain sawn board. When looking at a boards grain you need to look at the narrow side of the board too and see how straight the lines are. The side of that board is going to look a lot like a quarter-sawn board. That grain looks pretty good on the face so if your lines are fairly straight on the sides I would say it will make a fine bow. That board looks about 6" wide or so, thats why I suggested 2 bows from it. If you're not sure then just try to get one with the straightest grain from it. Hope all that makes sense.

Thanks for the compliments on the bow guys.

k-hat · April 19, 2011, 05:14:00 PM

Ima go 4 it!! If it makes two, I'll be one happy guy! The grain on the sides looks pretty straight, so it ought work ok. I cut the outer 2 inches or so (which did look quartersawn, it was the outer edge of the tree) off what was an 8 or 9 inch board for a bow that's almost to tiller, i can't wait to get started on these. thanks for the great info and encouragement. Love tradgang

okie64 · April 19, 2011, 10:50:00 PM

3 bows from a $15 hickory board. You cant beat a deal like that. Thats about how much they are at the lumberyard I shop at anyways.

StoneAK · April 19, 2011, 11:06:00 PM

Okie beautiful bow.

k-hat · April 20, 2011, 11:59:00 AM

Hick must be cheaper up north, this one cost me $30! It's been real hard to find round here, but i don't have a "real" lumberyard close by. nearest one is a couple hours away. Hoping one day i inherit some acreage from some distant relative with lots of osage, hickory, and oak!! I can dream! :p

okie64 · April 20, 2011, 02:00:00 PM

Thanks for the compliment Stone.

Kevin, $30 still aint too bad even if you only got 2 bows out of it and are you seriously calling Oklahoma up north? Like I'm some kinda yankee or somethin?

k-hat · April 20, 2011, 02:06:00 PM

Wonderin if you'd catch that

It's a Texas thang!

I agree, i was only expecting to get 1 bow out of it (the first piece i cut), so this will actually make three. I'm pretty giddy about the whole idea!

NYArrow · April 21, 2011, 09:17:00 PM

Good luck k-hat. Let us see the results. Are you keeping away from the wild fires? I'm originally from Graham, TX and moved here back in 05'. That's where most of my family is and they have been evacuated. Hope all is well.

k-hat · April 21, 2011, 10:43:00 PM

Sorry NY, hope the yanks aint drivin ya crazy up thar

I'm about 2 hours east of Graham, actually just a few miles north of 380. Haven't had any round here, thank the Lord. Sorry to hear about your fam, I've never had to experience anything like that and just simply can't imagine. Drove up on a forest fire one time in east TX and the magnitude of it just blows you away. We'll keep em in our prayers.

I'll definitely let y'all know how it goes and post pics.
PS: PM me your addy and i'll mail ya a box of fresh Texas air in case you're out!

NYArrow · April 22, 2011, 07:05:00 AM

LOL...been out a while. I kept a bit of red dirt on hand to remind me though.