Need advice on wood choices guys.

[John Malone]

I just found out ill be out of town this Friday. There is a saw mill I have dealt with before and they hve beautiful quarter sawn red oak. Its not cheap but its all old growth and the guy dries it on site in a solar kiln really nice set up and he is slowly expanding. Is quarter sawn worth the extra money for a better performing bow as opposed to the red ok from lowes. What I really need to know is he also has white oak and sycamore  also quarter sawn would that be better ive heard it was. He has a limited supply of zebra wood and black walnut. All is 4/4 5/4 4 to 12 inches wide  8 to 12 feet in lengths. Don't no if I could swing the walnut or zebra they may be slabs 8/8 no telling and he doesn't cut any thing it is what it is take it or leave it. He will however cut it in half to fit in your car after ya buy it.
 Thanks guys.

[fujimo]

wow, that Zebra would be nice, its from central africa- how does he get the logs?
the walnut makes good bows too- maybe back it with some maple or hickory- never made one- just read about them being great shooters.
anything has to be better than the commercial, high speed kiln dried lowes lumber.
 i would say its worth the extra expense.
white oak also makes a better bow than the red oak IMO.

buy them all    :D

[Pat B]

Red oak I've cut myself has been better than Lowe's red oak. White oak is very tough bow wood and makes good backing. I wouldn't bother with the walnut for bows and never tried sycamore.
 I think quarter sawn lumber is stronger but is more wasteful to cut so that's why it's more expensive. Also the outside cut(first cut from the log) could give you good selfbow material.

[mikkekeswick]

Grain orientation doesn't matter one jot for bow making. What matters is whether the grain is straight.
It isn't worth paying extra for quarter sawn.
All those woods will make good selfbows aprt from the zebrano.
People like quarter sawn because it shrinks less and doesn't cup (that is why it is even worth cutting logs on the quarter in the first place). Read about how wood contracts when drying.
Quarter sawn boards are the hardest to read. Only slight deviation from perfectly straight on the main face shows that the grain is quite severly violated.
Flat sawn boards are way easier to read for a beginnner.

[John Malone]

Thanks guys. I like QS for the reasons Mike said just didn't know if it was better for bows. Think ill stop by there and check it out.
As far as were he gets the logs he cuts them his self but the exotic stuff like zebra he just ends up with weird stuff on occasion. I think he does some horse trading with others in the business. Mostly he runs a huge farm and logging company. Last year when I was there he had some purple heart if I would have known..............

[Crooked Stic]

Quarter sawen Sycamore makes nice veneers.

[Pat B]

I'd see how he stores the wood before sawing it. If it is in a pile outside in the weather it might make good building or furniture material but not necessarily good bow wood.

[John Malone]

No ive dealt with this guy twice before. He has a climate controlled building with regulated humidity and all that stuff. He is super picky don't leave the door open no smoking. Not a big out fit but last year when I was there he said he wanted to expand. Not far from Sanford towards New Hill, Quartersawnoak.com. Its kiln dried but its a solar kiln I just found it to be the best quality oak ive ever worked with only bought red oak though.

[Wolftrail]

Sounds good,  I would try white oak.  Ya ever used Eastern Maple for a bow.  I use maple mostly,  not saying its the best as apparently Osage is king but we do not have that species in Can land.

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[Roy from Pa]

Need advice on wood choices guys.

OSAGE.

OSAGE..

OSAGE...

OSAGE....

[John Malone]

I promise I will buy some osage before the year is over. Not yet ready to fork out that kinda green for fire wood yet. Osage is what I want to use when I'm ready for the bow swap next year hopefully.

[BMorv]

Hey John, check out my new signature....

[John Malone]

LOL ya trying to tell me something. I tink so.

[Roy from Pa]