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What makes a good wood bow?
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In general, a good bow is one to which a high force can be applied under a large elastic deformation, which guarantees that a large amount of elastic energy stored during the draw is transferred effectively into kinetic energy of the arrow when the bowstring is released.” [1]
- Maple
- Cherry
- Red Oak
- Palm
- Dogwood
- Red Cedar
- Juniper
- Hickory
- Birch
- Bamboo
Maple is among the most popular and certainly one of the best-looking hardwoods around, and that includes for bow making. In fact, there are plenty of archers and bowyers alike that swear maple is actually the supreme wood for making bows. With an excellent combination of durability, availability, and energy storage, there is certainly a lot to lik...
Cherry is a divisive choice for bow making, or at the very least it is considered a lesser choice compared to some of the other prime woods on this list. But despite the controversy, there is no denying that cherry has several excellent attributes that can produce high-performance bows. It is known as a very “fast” wood thanks to its rapid rate of ...
Dense, heavy, and durable are the standout features of red oak. It also tends to be pretty expensive despite how common it is, but this has more to do with the overall quality of this wood for various purposes than its rarity. Properly made and given just a little bit of care, a bow made from red oak could prove to be a once-in-a-lifetime purchase ...
An unusual choice that is bound to elicit some raised eyebrows from those not in the know, palmwood is an interesting and inspired choice for bow-making. Palmwood is very dense and hard on the outside, but highly soft and supple on the inside. This lends it towards manufacturing bows that are very long and slender, but this usually translates to ex...
Dogwood is another inspired choice for crafting bows. Although lumber intended for the purpose is somewhat rare inside the United States, you won’t have to work too hard to find one. Dogwood is known for keeping its shape even after much use and its excellent compression ratio means it withstands stress wonderfully. This is another dense hardwood, ...
The mention of cedar is likely to raise some eyebrows among the experienced archers and bowyers reading, but before you get too upset know that red cedar isn’t strictly a real species of cedar at all, but is instead a species of juniper. Red cedar has some serious advantages for constructing a bow, though: it is commonly available, lightweight, and...
Your standard species of juniper also have some serious advantages for bow making, particularly if you want a compact bow still capable of producing good velocity while remaining durable. For making a smaller traditional bow of any sort, juniper is a great choice. Dense, tight-grained, and with a very speedy return, juniper can produce a bow that p...
It would not be wise to dismiss hickory as merely a wood for various tool handles… It can also make a surprisingly good bow! Hickory is light and very strong for its density, and this can make it ideal for crafting slender bows and also for use as a component, backer or belly. It is also easy to work, a nice bonus. Considering how common and afford...
Birch is a great everyday choice for bow-making. It is common, affordable, and offers a good cross-section of performance: is reasonably tough, fairly fast, and has good elasticity, all good attributes for a solid performing bow. However, there are quite a few subspecies of birch out there, and you’ll want to make sure you get yellowbirch for your ...
I know this is bound to ruffle some feathers among real wood aficionados because bamboo is actually a grass and not, strictly speaking, a wood. Nonetheless, bamboo is a wonderful choice for bow making and one with a distinguished history going back millennia. And no wonder: it is pretty affordable, available in most markets, decently rigid, highly ...
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- Orange Osage Wood. Some would save the best for last but we’re going to lead with it. Orange Osage is arguably the best wood for longbow fabrication by a country mile.
- Hickory Wood. Unlike Osage, hickory wood is readily available, and this makes it more affordable than Osage too. It also happens to be pretty good at being a bow.
- Red Oak Wood. Red oak is a really good choice if you want really strong wood that isn’t hard to find. It isn’t particularly cheap, but that’s only because it’s a great-quality wood.
- Red Cedar Wood. You might be asking yourself how cedar can possibly be a good wood for bow construction. Cedar is a fairly sturdy wood after all, so it would be challenging to fashion it into a bow.
When it comes to self-bows, that is bows made from a single stave of wood, Osage Orange is rated among the best wood for bows. The wood has a Bow Index of 11.5 making it very similar to Yew. Osage Orange is also highly resistant to rot.
- Osage Orange. Osage orange makes for one of the most popular bows. What’s impressive about this wood is that it won’t rot if it’s buried. It makes for good tensile strength and good compression – this balances out very well.
- Maple. Maple is known as hardwood, meaning that it will hold firm against the draw. All hardwoods are known to store a lot of potential energy when drawn back and flexed, which essentially charges the arrow with more force before it’s shot.
- Hickory. This wood is a fan favorite because it’s very cheap and easy to find. It can also take more wood run than many other types of wood, and the strong tension it produces makes for a great bow.
- Bamboo. Everyone has probably assumed that bamboo would make this list sooner or later. This wood is widely recommended by everyone, as it’s easy to get and it’s much cheaper than Osage orange wood or other expensive alternatives.
Apr 27, 2024 · Different woods are suitable for different types of bows, such as self bows, laminated longbows, and wooden recurve bows. Factors to consider when choosing bow wood include strength, flexibility, weight, and compatibility with shooting style.
Apr 11, 2015 · Pip Bickerstaffe looks at the different woods native to the UK that can be used for making bows, and the advantages, disadvantages, and characteristics of each.
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