Ever wondered what the secret behind a masterful bow is? Dive in to uncover the magical world of bow woods!
One day I was watching television at home and there was a program about bows. After that, I also had a desire to make a bow and started researching this.
I got answers to my questions about this from friends and archers in my field.
Most of them said that before making a bow, you should find suitable wood for it.
Later, I looked and researched for suitable wood for bows thanks to the professional bowmen in my area. There, I found several types of wood suitable for this.
So, here are the best wood for bows,
- Osage Orange Wood
- Hickory Wood
- Red Oak Wood
- Red Cedar Wood
- Bamboo Wood
- Birch Wood
- Dogwood
- Maple Wood
- Cherry Wood
- Ipe
- Plum
- Juniper Wood
- Palm Wood
- Ashwood
- Hazelnut wood
- Black locust
- Pacific And European Yew
- Elm
But that’s just a quick snapshot!
In this article, I’ll explore the qualities and properties of each and every wood above which are important for bow making with their pros and cons.
So now let’s see how to find the wood we need for bows, and what we should look for when we find that wood.
Let’s jump in!
First, let’s see what you need to consider when choosing wood for bows.
Factors You Need To Consider When Selecting Wood for Bows
There are several factors to consider when choosing wood as a grant.
Let’s take a closer look at each of those factors.
Strength
If you want to make a strong and durable bow, it is essential to use robust and sturdy wood.
If the wood lacks strength, the bow might break under pressure, even on its first use.
This is because the wood fibers might easily tear, leading to a complete breakdown of the bow.
Stability
The wood’s ability to maintain its shape is crucial.
If the wood isn’t dimensionally stable, the bow might start to warp or lose its form after just a few uses.
Additionally, it’s essential to choose a type of wood that can endure both very cold and hot weather conditions.
Elasticity
Dimensional stability is all about how things change with temperature, while elasticity is more about how things respond to pushing and pulling.
When choosing a bow, you’ll want one that can bend without breaking when you draw it back.
Types of Bows
There are various types of bows to choose from, like traditional bows, recurve bows, D-shaped cross-section bows, compound bows, and self-bows.
If it’s your first time getting a bow, these different types will affect the kind of wood you should pick.
Aesthetics
Lastly, it’s important to have a bow that you find appealing and exciting to use during your archery adventures.
Think about things like the color and texture of the wood when choosing.
You can also decide if you want a laminated bow or one that’s painted to match your style.
What is the Bow Index?
According to the above factors, durability is an important factor in choosing bow wood.
The Bow Index (BI) is the ratio of the wood’s modulus of elasticity (MOE) to its modulus of rupture (MOR). ) is the bearing ratio.
An easy way to determine if a wood species is elastic enough is to check the wood’s Bow Index (BI).
A higher BI value means the wood is more suitable for bows.
Modulus of Elasticity (MOE)
Modulus of elasticity (MOE) is the ability of wood to bend.
This describes at what stress levels the wood becomes permanently deformed when bent. MOE is given in pounds (force) per square inch.
Modulus of Rupture (MOR)
Modulus of Rupture (MOR) describes the physical breaking point of a piece of wood. Again force is expressed in pounds per square inch.
Bow Index
BI = MOR/MOE *1000
For example, Osage orange has one of the highest bow indices at 11.5, while Pacific yew is close at 11.26. Meanwhile, balsa, 5.73, and Pacific silver fir, 5.70, are some of the worst rated.
How To Select the Best Wood for Bows?
It is best to know the characteristics that a wood should have.
Which species of wood is most adept at serving as a bow should be explored in detail.
Making a Bow Out of Wood
Look at the MOE and MOR of a few wood species and rank them from worst to best for building a longbow or recurve bow.
The only problem is that this isn’t exactly official, but they are graded according to their stiffness and flexibility under stress.
Look for a specific grade of wood that ranks high.
Check the MOE and MOR for Bow Wood
Hunters and archery enthusiasts have discovered which wood species are best for archery applications.
Humans have been using the bow and arrow since ancient times.
So there are more than a few tricks and tips on what wood species are best, how to carve a bow, and what string is.
This step is best used when making a bow from scratch.
When selecting the type of wood to use for your bow, it’s crucial to consider practical factors such as availability and cost.
You should opt for a wood that is easily obtainable and within your budget.
Moreover, if you have specific preferences regarding the color and grain pattern of the wood, you should purchase wood with high MOR and MOE ratings.
This will ensure that the wood is robust enough to construct your bow from scratch.
Best Wood for Bows
Now we know about the components that should be present when choosing a type of wood and how to choose a suitable type of wood.
There are several suitable types of wood for all of these. Now let’s find out about it.
Let’s discuss one by one.
1. Osage Orange Wood
Osage orange wood is the best wood and most traditional wood for making bows since it has good tensile and well-balanced superior compressive strength.
Osage orange does not rot when buried. When heat is applied to this wood, it bends like cooked noodles.
It’s flexible so it can be made into many bow styles and is ideal even for beginners.
Pros and Cons of Osage Orange Wood
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Perfect material for making traditional bows | It’s a fire-hazard material |
| Osage orange materials are rot-resistant | More suitable for traditional bow-making |
| It has an excellent tensile strength | Not readily available |
| Expensive | |
| Good compression | |
| Easy to work with |
2. Hickory Wood
Although hickory wood is not the most efficient option, it is a really popular choice because it is very hard, thick, and strong.
Hickory has a low bow efficiency rating.
Hickory is an excellent choice for beginners when bow-making. I have found shellback hickory to be the perfect wood for making rough flat bows.
Pros and Cons of Hickory Wood
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| High-level density for tear resistance | Low BI rating |
| It can withstand harsh weather conditions | Not the wood for experienced users |
| Perfect material for newbie bow makers |
3. Red Oak Wood
Red oak is one of the most common woods in the United States, and you won’t have a hard time finding it.
Red oak is a really good choice for bow-making. It is quite expensive. But that’s only because of the high quality of the wood.
If you choose to make your bow from red oak, you will have a bow for a long time.
Red oak is solid, durable, and suitable for woodworking. A red oak bow can last for many years if properly maintained.
Red oak is great for outdoor use as well.
Pros and Cons of Red Oak Wood
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Best wood if you have a limited budget | Heavier than other bow woods |
| A staple in local lumberyards | Highly porous in its earlier growth rings |
| Durable and flexible wood options |
4. Red Cedar Wood
Cedar for bow construction includes Western Red Cedar and Eastern Red Cedar, which is not a true cedar but belongs to the juniper family.
Western Red Cedar
Despite its name, Western Red Cedar is not a true cedar but a juniper genus with red heartwood.
It’s lightweight, strong, and more readily available than conventional cedar. Often preferred by English bow makers for crafting traditional bows.
Select pieces with minimal knots for ease of bow-making.
It’s brittle but can be bent, occasionally requiring additional grip and friction reduction.
Eastern Red Cedar
Eastern Red Cedar is also not a true cedar but a juniper species. Ideal for making longbows due to its brittleness and lightweight nature.
Particularly suitable for English longbows with d-shaped cross-sections.
Boasts high elasticity (10.0 BI) relative to its mass.
Toxic wood species, requiring treatment for human use.
Pros and Cons of Red Cedar Wood
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| It features a weak tension | It’s a toxic material |
| Versatile material with high-level compression | It’s not widely available in the market |
| Lighter than other wood materials |
5. Bamboo Wood
Bamboo is an excellent material for making bows due to its ideal rigidity-to-flexibility ratio, durability, and ability to retain shape.
Bows made from bamboo are long-lasting and require minimal maintenance compared to other wood species.
Bamboo is cost-effective but can be more challenging to work with compared to traditional hardwoods.
Customizing the bow’s elasticity is possible by applying heat to bamboo, like Osage orange wood.
Bamboo’s versatility makes it a preferred choice for bow making, and it’s naturally rot-resistant.
Bamboo offers high tensile strength (28,000 psi) and can withstand compression (6,000 psi), making it stronger than some materials like concrete. It is also lightweight and flexible.
Heating bamboo slightly can enhance its elasticity, but crafting and shaping it can be labor-intensive.
Bamboo is a strong, versatile, durable, and affordable option for bow-making with natural resistance to rot.
Bamboo is known for its excellent durability, strength, and resistance to snapping back, making it a reliable choice for bow construction.
Pros and Cons of Bamboo Wood
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Economical and affordable wood option | Not a beginner-friendly material |
| It can be more elastic with some heating | It’s a complex material to shape |
| It can resist rotting and snapping |
6. Birch Wood
Birch trees are native to Europe, Asia, and Japan, and there are more than 40 species worldwide.
Birchwood is most suitable for making bows because it combines high density and elasticity, making it suitable for bow function.
Birch is light, which makes it easy to aim and carry for archery, but practice is essential for accuracy.
Yellow birch is found in areas where other bow woods are scarce, making it a valuable alternative for some bowers.
While some bowmakers consider birch to be weaker than most whitewoods, yellow birch is considered the strongest of the birch species.
Yellow birch is the most recommended birch species for bow-making because of its durability and strength.
Birchwood has a consistent grain pattern suitable for a variety of applications, but its natural color darkens over time.
Pros and Cons of Birch Wood
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Widely available across the globe | Other birch species are perishable |
| Durable and robust wood materials | It darkens over time |
| More affordable than other woods |
7. Dogwood
It is more common in Europe than in North America, but it is still available.
Dogwood is an excellent choice for making bows because of its high compression, density (750 kg/cubic meter), and strength, with a Janka scale rating of 2150, making it one of the hardest woods on Earth.
When using dogwood to make bows, make sure the board you choose is free of knots to avoid weak spots.
Its resistance to moisture and mold, along with its durability, makes it a compelling choice for archery.
Pros and Cons of Dogwood
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Good bow wood with high compression levels | More common in Europe |
| Rigid and long-lasting wood construction | Susceptible to knot formations |
| Flexible wooden material for different applications |
8. Maple Wood
Maple is considered one of the best woods for bow-making due to its strength and aesthetic qualities.
Maple is widely used in various industries worldwide
Maple is excellent at storing and dissipating potential energy, making it highly durable and suitable for bow construction.
Traditional bows, like recurve bows and longbows, can be made from maple wood, even though composite materials like carbon fiber are prevalent in modern designs.
Maple wood holds firm against the draw and stores more energy, allowing for more powerful shots. Plus, maple is super easy to carve.
Maple’s flexibility, with a BI (Bowyer’s Index) rating of 10.4, makes it suitable for crafting recurve bows comparable to those made from modern materials like fiberglass.
Combining maple with fiberglass is a common practice among manufacturers to achieve optimal strength and flexibility in bow construction.
Maple is a durable hardwood that can handle the draw weight from arrow shafts, making it an ideal choice for crafting recurve bows, especially for target archery.
Pros and Cons of Red Maple Wood
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| It can withstand firm arrow draws | More expensive than other bow woods |
| Works well with modern-day materials | Not for beginner woodworkers |
| Suitable for making the best recurve bows |
9. Cherry Wood
Cherry wood is favored for its quick snap-back, allowing for a swift follow-up shot, making it suitable for hunting and competition.
Its lightweight nature facilitates adjustments in stance and angle.
Cherry wood bows exhibit surprising arrow speed and long-lasting durability. This makes them appealing, especially for those using composite bows for speed.
Cherry hardwood trees grow tall and straight with an attractive bright color, making them visually appealing.
Cherry wood is toxic to humans, requiring the application of rawhide to ensure safety when using it as a bow material.
It has an elasticity of around 9.81 BI.
Pros and Cons of Cherry Wood
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Best woods for making swift-moving bows | Not a common material to make a bow |
| Versatile and lightweight materials | It’s a toxic wood species |
10. Ipe
Ipe wood is native to South America, especially Brazil.
Ipe, pronounced “EE-pay”, makes this wood suitable for making bows because of its ability to create thin and light limbs, resulting in a faster bow. It is often backed with bamboo for added strength.
This wood is resistant to decay, making it a suitable choice for bow-making, but some people may experience allergic reactions when working with it.
Pros and Cons of Ipe Wood
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Perfect for making a fast and light bow | More suitable for experienced bow makers |
| It can resist decay formation | Not the easiest wood to craft for bow-making |
| Best wood option for floors and decks |
11. Plum
Plum wood offers a diverse color range, ranging from yellow-brown to boards with red streaks.
It features a distinctive irregular wood grain with swirls and knots, adding to its aesthetic appeal.
Plum wood is highly elastic, with a MOE (Modulus of Elasticity) value of 1,478,000 lbf per square inch, allowing it to bend significantly without breaking.
Its high elasticity and strength make it an excellent choice for crafting bows, ensuring they can handle high tension and compression.
Pros and Cons of Plum Wood
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Weather-resistant bow wood option | Not easily found in local wood markets |
| Aesthetically pleasing wood grain | More expensive than other materials |
| It’s highly durable and elastic |
12. Juniper Wood
However, a well-crafted bow made from the right wood can compete effectively, especially with skilled hands.
Juniper wood is a prime example of bow wood. It is dense and small, making it ideal for crafting a compact yet sturdy bow that can rival larger bows, including composite ones.
Juniper’s density provides snap if the bow is designed correctly. It is a softwood with excellent qualities.
Pros and Cons of Juniper Wood
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| It has an incredible that suits bow-making | Not for big and compound bows |
| Tougher than softwood options | Rare and small wood pieces |
| Resistant to decay and rotting |
13. Palm Wood
Palm wood is a viable material for crafting bows due to its durability and unique properties. It shares similarities with bamboo, offering both flexibility and rigidity.
Palm bows are lightweight and excel at striking targets over long distances. They store ample energy, propelling arrows effectively.
These bows can serve for both longbows and recurve bows, depending on your preference.
Palm bows are ideal for hunting in vast, flat terrains. Indigenous people in Southern America historically used them for hunting and protection.
Their effectiveness in these applications translates to target shooting, but the practice is essential to get accustomed to the bow’s feel and tension.
Pros and Cons of Palm Wood
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Lightweight and durable material | Not for beginner bow users |
| Ideal material recurve and longbows | Not the usual bow material |
| High-density wood exterior |
14. Ashwood
Ashwood is a dense hardwood with high elasticity, commonly used for making durable self-bows and Asian recurve bows. It grows abundantly in the US.
Ash is easy to carve. Therefore, you don’t have to worry much about its workability.
Blue ash woods have a high elasticity of 9.86 BI.
Pros and Cons of Ashwood
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Suitable material for recurve bows | It requires intensive maintenance for long-lasting usage |
| Affordable and durable material | Susceptible to different insect attacks |
15. Hazelnut wood
In addition, hazelnut wood has gained popularity in the bow-making industry due to its strength and elasticity, making it an excellent choice for crafting flatbows and longbows.
Pros and Cons of Hazelnut Wood
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Popular bow wood option | Rare wood material |
| High elasticity levels | Availability may vary per region. |
| Suitable for flat and long bow designs |
16. Black locust
Black Locust wood is suitable for making bows due to its high tension and low compression, making it ideal for crowned-back arrows.
Black Locust is also used for flat-back bows, but it is susceptible to fretting.
Fretting occurs when wood fibers are not properly tillered, leading to the formation of clusters on the bow.
It is advisable to avoid subjecting isolated sections of the bow to excessive strain to prevent fretting.
It is not recommended to use Black Locust wood on wooden parts exposed to frequent straining.
Pros and Cons of Black Locust Wood
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Strong & high-tension bow construction | Not resistant to fretting |
| Suitable for crowned-back wood bows | Not recommended for strained bow parts |
| Rot-resistant and weatherproof |
17. Pacific And European Yew
Pacific and European yew is a top choice for bow-making due to its long history of success.
Pacific and European yew wood are hard and durable softwood with an 11.26 BI rating, making it suitable for bending without breaking.
Yew is particularly favored for crafting longbows, such as the Irish and English variants.
Pros and Cons of Yew Wood
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| High BI rating despite being a softwood | These are rare woods |
| Very elastic wood material | More expensive than other alternatives |
| It can bend without the risk of breaking |
18. Elm
In medieval times, bows were often made from elm wood as an alternative to Yew for crafting longbows.
Elmwood was readily available hardwood in various regions, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere, making it easy to obtain.
Pros and Cons of Elm Wood
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Proven and tested as a bow wood material. | Poor material workability |
| Widely available in many places | Not resistant to infestations |
| It’s an alternative to Yew wood. |
Best Wood For A Long Bow
Choosing the right wood for making a longbow is very important. It directly affects the durability and overall quality of the bow.
Traditionally, longbows were made from a variety of woods, each with its own characteristics.
Below are some of the best woods commonly used for making longbows.
Yew
Yew is a popular choice of wood for constructing longbows. It is known for its strength-to-weight ratio and can be crafted into a powerful and efficient bow.
The creamy white or pale yellow heartwood is used for the belly, which faces the archer.
The darker, reddish-brown sapwood is used for the back (the side facing away from the archer). English and Pacific yew are popular varieties for longbows.
Osage Orange
Osage orange also known as boys dark or bodark, is a traditional wood used for making longbows.
It is a dense and durable wood that can produce a fast and powerful bow.
With its distinctive bright orange-yellow color, it is often used for both the belly and back of the bow.
Lemonwood
This is a dense tropical hardwood and is ideal for bow-making due to its strength and flexibility.
Red elm
Red elm is often used for the belly of longbows due to its toughness and durability (Ulmus rubra).
Best Wood For Composite Bows
Composite bows are made by combining materials like wood, horn, and sinew, resulting in a highly efficient and excellent-performing weapon.
Some suitable woods for this are given below.
Bamboo
Bamboo is a popular choice for the core of composite bows because of its excellent strength-to-weight ratio and flexibility.
It’s lightweight and provides a strong backbone for the bow. Bamboo is often used in combination with other materials like horn and sinew.
Elmwood
Elmwood particularly European elm (Ulmus minor), has been historically used for the cores of some composite bows because of its strength and flexibility.
Hard maple
Hard maple such as Acer saccharum, is a strong and durable wood that can be used for the core of a composite bow.
It has good flexibility and high durability.
That’s it folks! Now you have crystal clear knowledge about the best wood for bows with the qualities of each.
So, let’s answer some frequently asked questions.
FAQs
What is the Best Wood for Crafting Longbows?
Yew stands as a premier choice for crafting longbows, celebrated for its elasticity and high Bow Index (BI) rating, which facilitates significant bend without breaking. However, options like white oak and red elm also offer commendable durability and flexibility, depending on your preference and budget.
Which Wood Offers Affordability Without Compromising Quality?
Osage orange wood serves as a budget-friendly yet highly effective choice for making self bows, boasting impressive tensile strength and rot-resistant properties, making it a beloved alternative to the pricier yew.
Are There Any Lightweight Woods Suitable for Bow Making?
Yes, cherry wood is a noteworthy option that crafts lightweight and agile bows, bringing forth a bright-colored, highly elastic, and durable choice for bow enthusiasts, albeit with a caveat of applying rawhide to negate its toxic properties.
Can I Find a Strong Yet Affordable Wood for Bows in the US?
Absolutely, red oak stands as a widely available and affordable hardwood in the US, offering strength and high elasticity, albeit being slightly heavy and porous, making it necessary to opt for older logs with thick late growth rings.
What Makes Bamboo a Viable Choice for Bow Crafting?
Bamboo captivates bow makers with its affordability, supreme tensile strength surpassing that of steel, and high elasticity, which can be further enhanced with slight heating, although crafting bows from it demands a bit more effort and time.
Is it Possible to Find Exotic Wood Options for Bow Making?
Yes, ipe wood, native to South America, emerges as an exotic choice offering exceptional strength and resistance to decay, ideal for crafting thin, faster bow limbs, despite being a bit challenging to work with due to its hardness.
What Are Some Tips for Choosing Wood for Recurve Bows?
When it comes to recurve bows, maple takes the lead, revered for its firm hold against the draw and exceptional flexibility, followed closely by hickory, both offering the requisite snappiness and durability for a high-performance recurve bow.
Which is the Best Wood for Crafting the Fastest Bows?
To attain maximum speed, selecting a wood like Osage Orange is often recommended due to its impeccable balance between stiffness and elasticity, which facilitates quick arrow velocities. Moreover, pairing it with a backing material like bamboo can further enhance the speed, albeit requiring meticulous craftsmanship to ensure optimal performance.
Did I cover all you wanted to know about the best Wood for Bows
In this article, I’ve deeply discussed the best wood for bows with the pros and cons of each. Plus, I’ve mentioned the best wood for composite and long bows as well.
The best wood for bows is typically Yew, followed closely by Osage Orange and Hickory due to their optimal balance of strength, flexibility, and durability. These woods allow for high-tension and swift arrow release, making them favorites among bowyers and archers alike.
Furthermore, I’ve answered some frequently asked questions.
Hope you’ve gained a good knowledge about the best wood for bows and which wood you should choose for making your loving bow based on your personal preference.
So, it’s time to go for the store and buy the wood that suits you the most and make a super cool bow out of it.
