Hi first time post (hope to make my first bow),
I was wondering if I could ask for some advice on wood selection for a board bow.
Firstly I need to say that the availability of hard wood seems to be very different in the UK than in the US. Our hardware stores only stock soft wood, so I have had to go to a timber (lumber) yard and have boards cut from a much larger piece of wood. As such I have not been able to examine the boards in much detail, having only seen the side profile of a 15"x4"x15ft block of Ash (hickory, red oak etc not available).
I've ended up with 3 boards 1 1/2" x 1 27/32" at 6 ft long, none of them are good but I would like some help picking the best.
Board A
So this board is the lightest of the three (I realize that the proportion of late growth is low). The grain seems to run sort of diagonally across the board. It seems to have one small knot on the face which I think will be the back. Not sure if I could plane this away as the side has a couple of knots in the same place. Image shows the corner.
Board B
This board is slightly heavier approx 300g and is very similar in the end grain.
The grain goes wavy towards the end of the board. I could cut at this point and have around 60" left
Board C
This is the heaviest board and the end grain looks the best but the grain on the face of the board is the worst
Is any of these boards suitable to make a board bow from? I was hoping not to need to back the bow, but I fear that it will be necessary (and probably wise seeing as its my first attempt)
Thanks in advance for your advice.