Hickory long bow....

[rutro]

 We live in E.TX. in the post Oak woods. I've been having this burning desire for a Hickory long bow now for a while. Walking these woods around the house has just made it worse. So far I've found Mockernut and Black Hickory. There are so many different sizes and types it's hard to figure out what they all are. Right now they are dropping nuts so that helps to identify types. Which type and what size should I be looking for? There are some young trees that look to be 4" to 6" in diameter. They grow straight up with few limbs trying to get up to the light. To me they look good, but what do I know. So many trees begging to be bows and so little time. I built my first bow when I was 7 years old. The mom had carried my younger brother and I to N.Carolina to meet Grandma and Grandpa. Don't know what kind of wood it was but it shot the arrows I made well enough to take a Thrush bird. I would not get back on the train to back to TX without it. They said I drug that bow all over .... well that was 60 years ago. I think it time to build another one.

[Forwardhandle]

The only Hickories I have used is shag bark or pignut but I think just about any of the hickories will work for you, look for strait even bark , hickorie takes a fair amount of time to season good but can be ruffed down and brought in 50 % rh for a couple months to get a bow , I like hickorie for a self bow or sinew back bows, I think hickorie gets a bad wrap somtimes because of improperly dried wood, I have 10 staves hanging in my shop that where cut 3 years ago that are taking some real nice natural reflex good luck with your build !

[Pat B]

Any of the hickories are good bow wood, even pecan(a hickory).4" to 6" would be a good size to start with. Now is a good time to cut because the bark should slip revealing a pristine back, no ring chasing.
 Before you cut visually inspect the tree. Be sure there is no twist in the growth. The furrows and ridges in the bark should be basically straight and not barber pole around the trunk. What the bark shows the wood follows.

[Dazzad]

Hickory need to be kindling-dry before you start bending it, as mentioned. It is also well worth reading the chapter on heat treating in tbb4 before you begin your hickory longbow. Bending the bow into reflex and toasting the belly with a heat gun can help unlock extra performance and resistance to taking set. Hickory is so tough in tension and comparatively less so in compression. Toasting the belly will enhance compression resistance and your new bows may surprise you!!!

[rutro]

  Hey thanks for the reply's! I know what to look for now. I never thought about how they can twist like that. Next time I get out and walk I can see more likely trees to choose from. Right now we've had enough rain to start making things sloppy. Not a good time to be out there, we have a sandy, clay type of soil and you can bog down in it and loose a shoe or boot before you know it. Not that I'm complaining, rain in TX in August is a beautiful thing. We were just on the verge of a bad dry spell. After the last one we lost so many big old trees it was a sad sight to see. Had some hard weather these last few years....