Birch or Willow

[pruiter]

Am here in the frozen North,  Thinking of building a bow, Just have birch and willow to pick from, which way do i go? cutting trees this weekend

[Pat B]

Paul, Yellow birch makes a pretty good bow and probably good arrows too. The willow isn't a good bow wood.  If you can wait until the growing season(once leaves come out) the bark will peel right off the stave making it easier to get a clean back, important with selfbows.

[Tom Leemans]

Never seen a bow of either wood, but if you have a nice big paper birch with nice bark, you can also have canoe material!

[Buemaker]

I have made two flatbows of ordinary Birch, Betula pubescens. Turned out okay. Bue--.

[razorback]

I ave made a couple of birch board bows, turned out pretty good. Keep it wide and long. Not the fastest bow wood but a lot of fun to work with. I did not use a stave though, so don't know if the sapwood makes much difference. Post lots of picks and do what Pat said, wait till the buds come out, getting the bark off at any other time is quite a chore.

[wood carver 2]

Do you have any maple or ironwood? I've seen some nice ironwood bows.
Dave.

[7 Lakes]

That Northern Birch makes a fantastic glass backed bow.  I'm guessing it will make a fine self bow.

[pruiter]

no maple or ironwood here, thanks all the input, Birch it wil be

[Pat B]

How about choke cherry or Hazlenut?

[pruiter]

Nothing for good wood here, am to far north, 300 year old tree is 60 feet tall here, poplar, birch, willows, sub alpine fur{balsum} pine and spruce, its all I can think off. The native people from way back here used Sub alpine fur or birch, thinking of playing the birch for arrows, grain very tight,

[LittleBen]

Your in a totally different realm up there. You may find those slow growing trees are much better than the fast growing southern counterparts. Or maybe not.  I say try a few options and report back.

[pruiter]

thanks for input, yes will report back to board.