Bow wood?

[wood carver 2]

Has anyone ever tried using ironwood as a bow wood? Either as a self bow or as a lamination.
This wood (also known as eastern hophornbeam) is heavy, hard and strong. It's so hard that the chainsaw left the stump smooth where I cut one down. I once made a carving mallet from a piece, and I know it was used to make tool handles and wheel spokes for wagons and early cars.
There is quite a bit of it growing in the woods here in southern Ontario. If it's any good I'll cut one down after the deer season is over.
Dave.

[Aznboi3644]

If you can find straight staves they make Very good bows.

I wish I could find some straight trees...most around here are knarly and twisted.

[okie64]

Theres a feller up your way by the name of Marc St. Louis that has made a few bows from ironwood. I've looked hard for it around here just cant seem to find any.

[wood carver 2]

According to the Field Guide To North American Trees, they grow all over the southern part of Canada from Manitoba eastward and in the U.S. almost all of the eastern half of the country all the way to east Texas. Here, they grow in the understory of the forest so they grow straight and get to be about 12" wide.
There's a few nice ones growing next to a ground blind I hunted from last fall. I'll ask if I could cut one down, but I'll have to wait till deer season's done.
Knowing how hard the wood is I hope it's not too tough to split.
Thanks for your help.
Okie64, you wouldn't know where Marc St. Louis lives would you?
Dave.

[Pat B]

Marc lives in Corbeil Ont.
 HHB makes a very good bow. Well worth harvesting some for your own use. You would be better off waiting until next spring after the leaves are out to cut it. Then the bark will slip(come off easy) and the wood under it will be the back of your bow. Don't worry about the hills and valleys, they add character and don't take away from the strength.
 You can cut the wood after is is dormant but the bark is stuck to the wood and a bear to get off clean.

[wood carver 2]

Pat B, thanks for the advice. I think I'll wait till spring then. The anticipation might just kill me though. I'm gonna go crazy staring at those trees while deer hunting this fall.  :D  
I have a couple of questions, having never cut wood for staves before. These trees average 40 to 50 feet in height and are straight. How much of the tree is good for bow wood and when I'm splitting out staves, how should I split the logs? Into 4 pieces, 8?. This is assuming an 8" diameter, which is about average. Lastly, how long do the staves need to dry before being worked?
Thanks in advance for your advice.
Dave.

[Pat B]

When you cut the tree down cut it into 7' logs then split each log in half and seal the ends. You can use carpenters glue, shellac, wax or any thing that will slow the evaporation rate through the end of the staves. Once you remove the bark, seal the back but leave the split sides unsealed.
 After a while take each log half down to stave size(approx 2" to 3" across the back) you can take each stave down to floor tiller stage(almost bow size) and they will dry quicker.

[wood carver 2]

Thanks, I'll do just that and force myself to be patient.
Dave.

[Pat B]

Go ahead and cut a 2" to 3" diameter HHB pole and make yourself a bow while you wait til spring. Not so much work on one that size.