Lemon wood alternative?

[ChrisM]

Read through the Hill book and decided to try and make a bow that he gave instructions to.  I know that lemon wood is not an option.  So what wood is as easy to work and reilient?

[Osagetree]

Osage Orange!

[ChrisM]

Will osage make a narrow and deep cored longbow?  All I have seen in Osage was more flat and thinner.

[Pat B]

Any compression strong bow wood will make a deep, narrow (ELB style or ALB style) bow. Actually lemonwood is not the best candidate for this style bow but it was cheap and readily available back in the heyday of American archery. The compression strength of lemonwood is marginal at best and more appropriate for a flatbow than an ELB style bow.
  Read the Witchery of Archery. Mourice Thompson used all sorts of woods to build that style of bows that were common in America back then. He used osage, yew sassafras(one of his favorites), elm, ash and others and made his living as a plume hunter and used it on his big game hunts and other adventures in the Southeastern US back after the Civil War.

[Roy from Pa]

Yes, my Osage bows are 1 1/4 wide at flares, tapering to 1/2 wide at tips.

[ChrisM]

Ok next question.  There is no good Osage in my area so where do I get a quality stave?  I do know a little about summer wood and spring wood but not enough to order one sight unseen.  Next can I get a piece that will yield a 68" bow or will I have to join two pieces?

[Roy from Pa]

I would try Pine Hollow Longbows, they are a sponsor here.
 http://www.pinehollowlongbows.com/

[ChrisM]

Thanks

[Black Mockingbird]

No osage in eastern Texas?...huh??....how hard did ya look? Ya know its native range is a couple hours north of you,and it was spread all over the eastern USA as fencerows. Some guys down your way have mentioned some lumber places and mills carrying osage lumber...look a lil harder and ill bet you find it.

[DavidV]

Red Mulberry is an alternative and might work better than osage if the bow is long because it is lighter.

[Shaun]

The Red River valley is the home of osage not far north of you. Should be plenty nearby.

[ChrisM]

Originally posted by Black Mockingbird:
No osage in eastern Texas?...huh??....how hard did ya look? Ya know its native range is a couple hours north of you,and it was spread all over the eastern USA as fencerows. Some guys down your way have mentioned some lumber places and mills carrying osage lumber...look a lil harder and ill bet you find it.

Go a few hours north and its all over the place but I don't know any one up there to cut there wood off of there land.  Around here its mostly pine.  If you do come accross them they are very short and bush like, usually on an old fence line and it had been cut back to ground a few times.  The soil around here is very acidic so that may be what the deal is.  When I have seen them growing alot its in the Oak belts up around
Dallas or west near Austin with a more basic soil.  There is a great grove in the park next to my brothers house in Phlugerville but they may frown on me harvesting some.

[ChrisM]

Ok I think I have a winner a fella contacted me and said that a Yew board and some bamboo backing would work nicely.  I think that may be a good choice for a first bow.  No need for chasing growth rings or preserving sap wood.  Now to find the Yew and Bamboo.

[Osagetree]

You can use a yew board and a 1/8" thin hickory backing...

[vanillabear?]

[ChrisM]

Yea a fella out of canada contacted me.  He has some they seem fairly reasonable for a bow quality piece.  Figure I will need several because I am pretty sure I will screw something up.

[vanillabear?]