Walnut

[UnderControl16]

Hey guys,
So i was checking out some wood and i was looking at walnut and i couldn't find any with good grain. how straight does walnut grain need to be since it's such a strong wood...

[UnderControl16]

Has anyone ever made a self bow from walnut in that manner? would putting a backing on it solve the issue?

[Innocente]

i've used it for tip overlays, it was pretty decent.  made for EXCELLENT contrast in a white wood bow.  never tried it as the primary wood for a bow though, sorry bro

[b.glass]

I would definitely back it, probably rawhide.

[Jack Denbow]

I saw one once that was backed with hickory. It was a cool looking bow, I keep saying I am going to make one but haven't done it yet, one of these days.
Jack

[BAK]

Had been told that at one time hickory backed walnut made a very fast bow.  Even used for flight shooting.

[hillbilly61]

Making a boo backed walnut right now. Had to quit on the tillering this afternoon. Was'nt able to "see" How the bends were going. Seems to be responding good to the tillering ., but this is only my 4th bow so anything could happen at this point  

[Tom Leemans]

Walnut can bend so far, then it will fret, so the thinner, the wider, or the deeper, the longer. Makes great lams though!

[ChristopherO]

I've made one all walnut board bow.  It sure is pretty but after about 200 arrows through it the chrysals started showing up all through the lower limb.  Didn't help that the limb had a bunch of run out, though.

[limbcracker]

I've made a few walnut bows, had several break on the tillering board. Made a hickory backed  one that was my favorite bow for a year, 50lbs at 28, 68" ntn. It broke the next spring, probably because it was inadequately sealed and dried out over the winter. I have another unbacked one now 45 lbs, nice shooter. I would recommend 68 inches min. And backing is helpful, but not necessary, most of mine that broke, brok in compression, on the belly, chrystalling on the handle taper or from runoff grain in the working part of the limb. If your can find a stave or board with sapwood, a sapwood back, heartwood belly bow looks and works great, my two best have been like that. A pyramid style works well. Good luck.

[UnderControl16]

Originally posted by limbcracker:
I've made a few walnut bows, had several break on the tillering board. Made a hickory backed  one that was my favorite bow for a year, 50lbs at 28, 68" ntn. It broke the next spring, probably because it was inadequately sealed and dried out over the winter. I have another unbacked one now 45 lbs, nice shooter. I would recommend 68 inches min. And backing is helpful, but not necessary, most of mine that broke, brok in compression, on the belly, chrystalling on the handle taper or from runoff grain in the working part of the limb. If your can find a stave or board with sapwood, a sapwood back, heartwood belly bow looks and works great, my two best have been like that. A pyramid style works well. Good luck.

Ok so if i made a 72" ntn 55# @ 28" and so long as the grain is longer and straight and there doesn't have to bad of grain it wouldn't need to be backed and try to find sapwood... and be very caredul while tillering.... ok i'll have to give it a try soon and post the results....

[DirtyDan]

I have made several walnut self bows.  Unfortunately, when I made them out of the pretty, dark inner wood, they broke.  If you just take off the bark, however, and use the white wood for the back, they work pretty well.  They are kind of "soft", though, with not as much spring as elm, hickory, or osage.

[JamesV]

built my wife a walnut longbow backed with (cloth) snake skin. bow shot fine but took a lot of set and after some shooting began to fret really bad. Great looking bow hanging on the wall

[Bruce Prosser]

I built my 5 year old grandnephew a walnut longbow, 30# at 18 inches, 40 inches long (see my facebook pictures if interested)out of the sapwood and heartwood from the stave cut from a tree and it works great for the little feller.

I also made a short draw 60 pounder at 24 inches of draw from a sister split from the same tree. Wider is better, no fretting or problems so far. the contrast from the sapwood and heartwood is stunning!

Bruce