Crepe myrtle wood?

[Ranger44]

I live in MN.  My best friend lives here and also has a place in Arkansas.  He has some trees called "crepe myrtle" down south.

I did a search and it seems as though this is a good wood for a stave/self bow.  I was wondering if this is completely different than the myrtle I keep seeing as veneers and handles in composite bows?  He is willing to cut some for me to mill into lumber if I want it.  Is it worth his/my time?

Thanks for your help.

[fujimo]

its prolly junk, but send me some test pieces, i will check it out for you- say about half a dozen staves, and enough for 8 or 9 glass bows.
will pm you my address- if you pay the shipping!  :D

[fujimo]

i believe its a good bow wood- from all i have read!

[KenH]

Crepe Myrtle is genus Lagestroemia  a group of plants native to India and grown in subtropical places around the world (like the American South).

Southern Crepe Myrtle should make a good bow-wood.  It's a bit harder than Cherry.

Myrtle either genus Myrtus native to the Mediterranean or genusUmbellularia of California and the PNW a.k.a California Bay or California Laurel.

[LESKEN2011]

Some excellent self bows have been made from Crepe Myrtle. It is real snappy and is best if you keep it short, from what I have heard. I have a self bow in the works and some staves I plan to mill into lams.

[Pat B]

I've heard CM makes very good bows. The first I saw was a few years ago a guy that went by Thimo. He was making 90#+ longbows with CM.

[Ranger44]

Thanks guys.  Anybody know what the grain looks like?

[Mad Max]

Blackhawk on primitive archer made one

[soy]

Originally posted by Mark Daniel:
Blackhawk on primitive archer made one

what hasent He made  

[Mad Max]

Originally posted by soy:
 

Originally posted by Mark Daniel:
Blackhawk on primitive archer made one

what hasent He made      [/b]

X 10 on that