White Ash

[bigcountry]

Anyone build too many white ash bows?

I see some did ok, and some really bad.

Got a stave from a member on here Brad J and cut it into a blank.

2.5" at the fades parrelel up 12" and then tapering.

Thinking of heat treating the belly.  I need to take out some prop twist anyway.

[formerbutcher]

I like White Ash, thats what i built my bow out of for the swap, check out the thread. My trad bow.

I only went 2" wide for most of the length, then tappered tp 1/2"

John

[bigcountry]

She looks real good.  Thanks for sharing.  Have you built a lot of these White Ash bows? Did you do anything special?  Heat treat or heat in alot of reflex?

[formerbutcher]

I have not built a lot of these, only 2
I did heat about 2" of reflex into this one, it all came out in the finale tillering, but i'm still happy with it !

[bigcountry]

I was shocked to see you thought it was 70lbs at 28"

I didn't think white ash could take that much wieght due to the compression strength

[formerbutcher]

Yep 70# @ 28 It's a Beast ! Long and wide is the trick i think. That bow is 68" ttt

[bigcountry]

I made my blank to 70".  And its 2.5" wide at the fades.  Its just much lighter than say an osage bow of simular dimensions.

[formerbutcher]

You can always shorten it as you go along.

Have fun !

[John Scifres]

I've made 4 white ash bows.  They were decent performers and all but one survive to today.  I went with 2" wide for half the length of the limbs.  They ranged from 68-70" NTN and made 50-55# at 27-28". Ash is known to be variable in its quality and density so take that into consideration.  I'd say my experience bears this out since string follow and performance varied a good deal with the bows I made.  This was all before heat treating was en vogue but I'd guess ash would respond well to it.

If you feel a substantial difference in weight from a typical osage bow, I'd guess yours is on the light end of the density spectrum.  Make it correspondingly longer/wider.  2.5" might be a good guess.

[Moen]

I made ELB`s from ash. My flightbow is 134#@30" and heat treated with reflex. But this is Norwegian ash.
   

[bigcountry]

Pretty awesome ELB.

[George Tsoukalas]

Very nice bow. I've mad 6 white ash bows. Tiller well. Make sure the limbs are bending well and evenly. It's weak in compression. Jawge

[bigcountry]

Yea, I have read from several years back about your ash experience George.  Hope mines not the same.  Looks like it varies alot in density and quality.