Harvesting Raw Material

[YosemiteSam]

Here in my part of CA, we don't have osage, hickory or yew.  But I pass tons of ash & mulberry every day.  Plenty of Chinese elm, too, though I'm not sure if that's as good a bow wood.

I'm wondering how to select a branch to harvest for a selfbow.  How thick should it be in diameter (minimum)?  How can I tell how straight the grain is when it's still on the tree?  Are a few small knots okay or does it need to be clear?  there aren't too many folk who do this sort of thing out here (I have one trad-hunting neighbor but he's not into building).  Any good resources for learning?

[scrub-buster]

Send bubby a PM.  He might be able to help you out.

[Pat B]

2" in diameter or larger should work with most bow woods. Mulberry would be my choice of what you mentioned.
Most limbs will grow pretty straight . Try to get one with no side branches.

[mikkekeswick]

Most woods over 0.55s.g. will make a bow. You definitely don't need the 'premium' woods you mentioned. Mulberry is well worth experimenting with.
Branches are ok but much better to get a trunk. Anything over 2 inches will work. To begin with only select the straightest, most knotfree wood you can find. Much better to spend a few hours looking than to try and make a bow from a marginal stave.
Get yourself the TTB books, vol 1 is as good a palce to start as any. Follow the 'osage bow' chapter and simply adjust the width for different wood species.
Good luck. Practise makes perfect.

[LittleBen]

Mulberry is one of my favorites.

A lot of the benefits of Osage just lower density, but just keep your bows a bit wider and you're good.

I really like how mulberry gets that aged look very quickly, especially in sunlight.

[YosemiteSam]

Thank you for your feedback.  Sounds like a book is on my "things I need" list.

At 2", I assume that all sapwood is okay for the mulberry?  I've seen 3-4" limbs that barely have 1" of heartwood at the center.

[Pat B]

I've made bows with all sapwood, 50/50, a few sapwood rings and all heartwood with mulberry. The more sapwood the thicker the limbs will be but they all made good bows and shot well.