Hickory Board?

[Pac'em out]

I'm trying to find a board to build my first bow.  I'm having no luck finding red oak with straight enough grain.

I read in TBB that hickory doesn't have to be straight grain and you can have a few rings run off the board per limb.

So, my question is, what are the basic guidelines for finding a hickory board stave?  Can it have islands and variations on the back?  Can it have rings that run off on the side profile?

I'm just trying to find something to start with and getting a little frustrated.  Any help is appreciated.  Thanks in advance.

Tim

[John Scifres]

I wouldn't risk too many or too steep of a runup.  Hickory might be a little less critical than red oak but the rules for choosing a board still apply.

 Ferret\\'s Board Bow Instructions

[Pac'em out]

Thanks for the link.  Definitely some good info there.  I was looking for boards to product 3.5" limb widths.  It looks like you can get away with 1.75" if the board is edge grained.  Is this a true assumption?

[John Scifres]

3.5" is way too wide for any bow I have ever seen.  Do you have a reason for such width?  It's all about design.  What are you trying to make?  Draw length, overall length, draw weight?

[sulphur]

here is a video build i did.  it will work for ash, red oak, maple, hickory.  there are 19 parts this is part 1.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37EPS0Xs_Tw

[Pac'em out]

I mean't more like 3" wide at the fades, 3.5" starting board width.  Standard pyramid design.  Looking for 28.5" draw, 66-68", 50-55#s.  Thanks, John.

[Pac'em out]

Sulphur, great videos.  Thanks a bunch.

[Pat B]

If you have a specialty lumber company is your area, that might be a good place to find hickory and other woods. These companies supply wood to cabinet makers, furniture builders, etc.

[John Scifres]

You could make 2 50# bows with a 3-1/2" hickory board.  But, to start, go with 2" wide, straight pyramid to 1/2" nocks, 68" nock-to-nock.  Start with 5/8" thick and you should be close to 50# after getting her bending well.  have fun..

[Muleman027]

Pac"em i not sure where you live in colorado but up in the northern part we have a store called "woodcraft" they are a national chain you might have where you live or store in ft.collins called sears trostel and both those stores carry hickory boards

[Pac'em out]

Hi Muleman, I'm down in C. Springs.  We have one of those in town.  I checked them out.  The one here is very small though.  Thanks for the tip.

[carver]

another option is to buy a 2" thick piece of hickory, and rip pieces off the edge which are 1" thick...giving you real 1x2's which are edge-grained.

[George Tsoukalas]

My site has info.
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by sulphur:
here is a video build i did.  it will work for ash, red oak, maple, hickory.  there are 19 parts this is part 1.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37EPS0Xs_Tw  

really great stuff, thanx for sharing!        

[Flinttim]

Only seen the first 2 parts of the video, but there's some good stuff there.Should help a beginner.

[Flinttim]

Great work Sulphur ! Wish I had this back ions ago when I began. For anyone wanting to try a first bow, this is perfect. Rob, I hope we can put up a link to these vids for the new folks.

[Flinttim]

BTW, I hope you keep the door locked while tillering .LOL.