| What I'd do is cut a good sized bough now - leave the bark on and paint the cut ends with melted wax so the cuts are sealed. Then take the section with you when you leave and store it somewhere dry with an airflow for a couple of years. That way any bowyer willing to incorporate the hazel into your bow will know the wood is stable enough to work with. Better still, cut two bits of wood so you can try making one yourself.
You're correct in that almost any wood can be used to make a bow and the wider, flatter limbs of an AFB allow you more options than the narrow D-shape ELB. An ELB must be long whereas a hunting weight flatbow can be safely made under 60". Safest option would be to back the hazel with a hickory or bamboo lamination rather than a selfbow. Also look at the Pyramid design as a home project - wide limbs tapering to a point - as the design is less critical about following a single growth ring and its a pleasing shape. Get a hold of the Traditional Bowyers Bible Vol 1 & 2. Really interesting and demystifies the process of choosing, preparing and cutting wood. There are some incredibly fast bows being produced using nothing more than white wood timber found in your local DIY shop as long as the correct bow design is used. |