Which wood?

[Butts2]

A friend went for a ride with me and observed a broken POC on the dash. He is heading back east in 2 weeks and asked if I made my own bow also since I had made the arrow. Not yet. He said he could get me Ash, Hickory, any Oak, Black Locust or Osage Orange. Asked me how long of a piece I would need and what lumber and diameter? Told him I would have to ask the Gang. Another archery journey begins.

[horatio1226]

Osage
68" long
8" tree quartered
1 piece sent to me in Coxsackie, NY
Puuulease!!
Brian  

[Juniper Bow]

If I understand you right he is refering to a tree. If you are interested in chasing a ring Osage would get my vote. If you want to make a white wood bow then Ash or Hickory would both be good choices. Any of the woods mentioned would work great though.
Ask for as long a piece as is practical, this gives you some grace room in case of bad knots or splitting ends.
The greater the diameter the more staves you can get of course and it will give you a less rounded back. I have made bows out of 3" diameter trees, bigger than that is better though.
Unless you want a character bow, ask for something straight, not twisted and with as few limbs as possible.
Have fun and tell us how it turned out!