Beech Sapling Bow

[razorback]

Ok, I haven't made it yet but wanted to ask if anyone had experience with these. I went for a hike in the woods behind my house today to look for saplings for a bow and the only stuff I found was lots of Beech. There was one 3" maple which will get cut but not sure if it is hard or soft maple. Some of the beech is very clean for 6-7' and from 3-5" in diameter. I have cut larger beech before and it twisted like a propeller.

On another note hiking was grate, found lots of sign for wintering deer, the grouse were drumming up a storm and it was a nice cool sunny day with snow still in the shadows. A great way to spend a Sunday afternoon and now to cooking Easter/daughters birthday dinner.

[Pat B]

Let the leaves come out on the maples for positive ID. Red maple would be a marginal bow wood.
 Beech should make a pretty good bow I would thing but I haven't tried it.

[razorback]

Thanks Pat, do you know what the red maple early leaves look like. I know we have a bunch of different maples around here, what types make good bow wood.

[Pat B]

The Canadian flag has sugar maple leaf on it.

[Roy from Pa]

Hard Maple..

[razorback]

Thanks Roy, which ones are those?

[Dan Landis]

Razorback, the red maples have red flowers and the hard maples have a pale yellow green flower both flower just before the leaves start coming out of the buds.  Also, in my area of PA the reds flower and leaf out before the hard / sugar maples do.

[Echatham]

i got alot of beech around here... and it looks really clean and straight alot of times... but the bark doesn't do much to clue you in to propellor twist.  ill probably try it eventually, but i have no idea.  i believe American and Hop Hornbeam are in the beech family

[razorback]

Thanks Dan, that is real helpful. The sapling I am looking at is 150 yards behind my house and next to a mature tree, so I will watch it carefully.

Eric, I cut a beautifully straight beech in northern Litchfield county and when I split it, you would have been able to slap it on the back end of one of you subs and gone faster. I couldn't believe how it twisted. I'm hoping a sapling will be better.

[Echatham]

haha Tony yeah sounds like its definitely related to HHB.  twisty stuff there.  i got one i found during the winter i gotta go get soon.. "only" 90 degrees of twist per stave length lol!

[LittleBen]

I'd guess that assuming you can get a piece that reasonably straight it will make a fine bow.

I do believe that beech dust is poisonous though.

[razorback]

Thanks for the heads up on the dust. I will be careful with it. I am working with Ipe at the moment and have a resporator. I just need to get better at using it all the time.