White Oak vs Red Oak

[8Charles]

I have read that some people believe White Oak is better than Red Oak for a board bow.  What are the specific advantages.  I seem to get a lot of limb set with Red Oak.
Thanks

Emmett

[George Tsoukalas]

I honestly haven't noticed much difference. Where are you finding white oak boards? How much set are you getting on red oak? Jawge

[hova]

ive noticed with the white oak im using now , its denser , and seems to resist set better than the red oak i was using last time.


im not a bowyer , but i did stay at a holiday in express last night...


-0hov

[KellyG]

Now that is funny  

[Living_waters]

The specific gravity of White oak is greater and from experience it seems to be better in tension and takes less set. Some white oak can rival hickory even exceed it. Oak is a very over looked bow wood and not all oak is created equal.

[8Charles]

Jawge

On a Red Oak board (first one) I got about 3 1/2 of set.  On my first Hickory Board I got about 1 3/4" of set.  On my third bow (red oak) I got about 2 1/2 " of set.  My first one could have been lack of experience.  I was just wondering if White Oak would be better as far as limb set.

Emmett

[Living_waters]

I have in my shop 3 bows as identical as they can get, all red oak all silk backed. I have one that has 1" of set and one that has close to 3" set...but the one with 3"set has a better cast of the three, this goes against common theory. I have laid them side by side and shot them countless times and the one with the most set has the flattest trajectory.

But I have a white oak that has virtually no set, it is unbacked and one of the smoothest bows I have made.

[soopernate]

I think alot of that can be explained with the wide range of density that the red oak can have.

[Living_waters]

My point exactly.

[Don Stokes]

There are multiple species of red oak and white oak, and the properties vary considerably between them. Generally, red oaks have open pores and are less dense than white oaks, and white oaks are impermeable to liquids and dry more slowly. White oak is used for whiskey barrels, but red oak would let the whiskey leak out through the pores, which would be criminal.    

[George Tsoukalas]

8Charles, I don't what caused that set on your red oak. Tell us about the design of the bow. Jawge

[beetlebailey1977]

Originally posted by hova:



im not a bowyer , but i did stay at a holiday in express last night...


-0hov

Sounds like me.