I discovered the most suitable timber for my bow arrow while I was learning the techniques required to operate a recurve bow. It was also a great way to make my recurve bow one of the ideal.
Numerous kinds of wood can make excellent bows that recurve, such as osage orange bamboo the red oak, hickory, Ipe, eastern redcedar dogwood, and most hardwoods such as maple and oak.
What is the most suitable wood to make a bow recurve? The most suitable wood for a recurve bow is an equal mix of Maple or Hickory. They are both common enough to be affordable and, more importantly, they possess the highest strength and flexibility that is required to make a bow recurve.
Which kind of timber will you need to construct bows?
You’ve chosen to use a recurve bow.
Did you think of creating your bow? Or are you trying to find the perfect bow available to use outdoors?
Recurve bows are enjoyable and are a traditional hunter’s tool utilized to gather food for many thousands of years. Finding the most effective Recurve Bow starts with the highest quality wood.
Archery has been in use for quite a while and was among the first tools designed to hunt. In the past, there were just several options of wood.
However, with the advancement of advances in science and technology, artificial timber is being developed. Different wood types have been examined and tested to make bows that shoot quicker and with more accuracy.
What are the top woods…
Maple
The most prominent position is Maple.
Maple is the most frequently employed as it is a hardwood which means that it has a strong “snap” in it. Hardwoods are known to store potential energy when they are bent, which allows the arrow to have to exert more force once it’s released.
It also allows the flexibility needed to construct a Recurve Bow.
Even with the development of advanced materials like fiberglass Recurve bows are constructed from maple laminates.
One of the best examples is the famous Grizzly Recurve Bow manufactured by Bear Archery. It is made of a mixture of the wood of maple and fiberglass laminates on the limbs the recurve bow was a popular choice for Traditional archers for years now.
Hickory
In the 2nd place, we’ve Hickory,
This kind of wood is typically the first choice for those who are just starting. It’s extremely affordable and can be found everywhere.
It has a sturdy bend resistance, which is ideal for backing. It also can withstand greater wood runs than many kinds of wood.
It is extremely strong in resisting bends, just like bamboo, it should be quite thin when you are using it for making your bow.
If you’re considering building your bow for the first time, I recommend hickory as a choice!
The wood of Hickory has an extremely high level of absorption of moisture, which is why it’s not the best choice in humid areas.
Osage Orange
Anyone who has owned bows made from Osage Orange will probably have it listed as one of their top bows. It is a good tensile material and super-compressed strength that helps the bow’s balance.
Let’s discuss how it doesn’t rot! (even when it’s buried)
There is a downfall…when the heating process is done, this wood will be able to bend as melted rubber. This is why you should be extremely cautious when applying heat.
However, ….the nature of the material that it can be bent signifies that it is elastic and it is simple to transform into various styles.
Con! It’s a costly wood that can be difficult to locate.
Bamboo
The wood, when is compared to the Osage the orange variety is much cheaper and more accessible, but it requires more effort to make it more durable than Osage wood.
Bamboo can last a long time and is affected by heat, too. The heat can cause more elastic.
It snaps back quite effectively and this can help provide the arrow with more force.
Pro Tip: If you are making the bow, allow the outside surface to serve as the belly. This will improve the balance.
Red Oak Red Oak
Red Oak is super easy to locate and it is inexpensive to purchase. It can be found in any hardware store, or perhaps your local Lowe’s as well as Home Depot.
Be aware: If you’re looking for this specific wood, be sure to avoid an item that has older growing rings.
Red Oak is very porous therefore you should purchase a piece with large early growth rings. It’s less bristly.
This kind of wood is heavier, but it is still necessary to back it as any other wood to provide adequate backing for bows.
Ipe
Okay, so I would like I could ask you to take a note of how you pronounce this word since I’m fairly certain that even if you don’t understand what wood it is then you’ve pronounced it incorrectly.
It’s pronounced as “EE-pay”. You can say it several times to yourself since I’m sure I did.
It is a strong wood that allows you to create thinner legs that are significantly lighter. Many archers utilize this kind of wood and then support it with bamboo.
Ipe is the most popular material used for decks as it has a strong resistance to decay. This is a good thing for bows!
*Be aware: A majority of people suffering from allergies might be affected by this kind of wood.
Eastern Redcedar
You might be thinking it’s a kind of cedar. This isn’t the case!
Its Latin name is Juniperus Virginiana. It is a kind of Juniper.
The bow is so fragile and lights that it’s perfect to make bows with recurves. It is strong in compression and the weakest tension.
The only drawback is that it could be extremely difficult to find on.
Dogwood
It appears that the majority of people from Europe utilize dogwood than in America. The U.S. for bows but don’t be confused it’s still an excellent piece of wood to make bows from.
It is extremely dense and sturdy and it is very high in compression.
The most important thing is to find the best piece. That means, when looking for dogwood, make sure to be certain that it doesn’t contain knots. Because they aren’t able to bend properly. The majority of the time, they tend to break right and then split in half.
However, if you come across an item that is free of knots or pins, then you’re done.
If the wood is stressed, eventually the wood may also form knots that could lead to your bow having more of the chance of snapping.
Absolutely plenty of excellent alternatives. The more money you have, the greater value you will be able to get from the wood you choose to use.
Once you’ve got the wood you want How do you construct it?
Create Your Own
This is a skill in and of itself!
It may take a long time to master the art of building your bow, particularly in the beginning when you’re learning the basics of picking the correct wood.
The first step!
You must decide the kind of wood you will be using. Maple as well as Hickory is most frequently used, and I would suggest starting with Hickory and Maple.
Some kits come with pre-cut pieces and other components needed to construct the bow of your choice.
I believe this is an excellent option for novices because you’ll be able to get the fundamentals of the materials you’ll need to construct the bow of your choice. These kits are available in most archery shops.
This is an excellent bow kit for beginners to get started!
As I mentioned, there is a lot of work that goes into the making of a Recurve bow. David Radtke is amazing and If you’re looking to learn all the information and details on how to build your own recurve bow.
Final
Maple and Hickory will be your top choices to build your first bow recurve. They are strong and inexpensive materials that are and are easy to locate.
The materials I’ve listed will have pros and cons, no regardless, but to make an outstanding bow, you need to select a great wood that can stand up to the rigors of a bow and meet the highest standards.
Build your bow recurve kit to start and remember to have fun while doing it!
Related Questions
What Australian woods are suitable for bows?
HTML0 Australian Wood is ideal for bows like hickory, spotted gum bamboo, and water gum.
What is the best type of wood for shafts for arrows?
The most effective bow shafts used for arrows that are targeted are made from import Norway Pine and Port Orford Cedar. These are great hunting arrows.
Do you have the ability to make bows using pine?
Pine isn’t the best material for bows. Pine is a softwood that does not retain its snap as well as hardwoods.
