Thread: Help please with NZ wood for bow.

Thanks guys - he has followed a you tube video and made a great little PVC bow, must be about 25 lb in draw. We'll wait a few months for the wood to season and he can try some wood carving skills.

Originally Posted by Pete_D

Thanks guys - he has followed a you tube video and made a great little PVC bow, must be about 25 lb in draw. We'll wait a few months for the wood to season and he can try some wood carving skills.

I reckon we need a few photos of said PVC bow. Top effort.

There made from 20mm PVC pipe and bent using a heat gun. Pretty cool and after a couple of stuff ups came out sweet. Mum helped with the leather grip. They also shoot sweet in the garden!

That is a great result, I bet he is wrapt that he has made his own bow.

Well done you lot. If you are interested there are vids on YouTube that detail how to make those pvc bows look like wood grain.

Good way to get young people into archery cheap but also rewarding in the sense of building what you shooting.

Aussie Blackwood could be a go, the thinner braches are incredibly hard to snap, and really "springy"

If he can laminate he can use timber that's less suitable on it's own.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_sb2Me3hdo
@Pete_D

Thanks - we'll check that out later.

Originally Posted by Boar Freak

If he can laminate he can use timber that's less suitable on it's own.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_sb2Me3hdo
@Pete_D

What about Tanekaha,
It's a very strong tough and stringy wood
Zq

As kids we used to use Lancewood for bows. Used the trunk as cut and about 1 1/2 inch across. Worked fine for kids bows but would break when dry or a few years old. If he cuts it I understand to have the sap side away from you and the heart side toward you. That's hoe the English made their long bows.

Only ever built one out of yew, dried a 4" piece for three years then split it with a bill hook following the grain, this prevents splitting latter on, you want sap wood on the outside (white) core wood (red) on the inside, to keep the Spring in the bow, work away at both woods following the grains, until you have a draw weight you like, a lot of work and time but worth it.

Originally Posted by Taff

Only ever built one out of yew, dried a 4" piece for three years then split it with a bill hook following the grain, this prevents splitting latter on, you want sap wood on the outside (white) core wood (red) on the inside, to keep the Spring in the bow, work away at both woods following the grains, until you have a draw weight you like, a lot of work and time but worth it.

Cheers Taff - he's working on a Yew stave at the moment, only 2-3 inches but going good. I'll get a picture up when finished.