Does a red oak small pole of wood bend easily if wet?

Question

For a bow.................

Answer 1

I repaired an old boat and put new wood ribs in it.  I used white oak.  I boiled water in a pressure cooker and hooked up a rubber hose to the top of the pot.  The steam then went into a pipe with the wood inside it.  After It got hot with the steam I took it out and bent it into the shape I wanted. You have to bend it before it cools.  It was fun!   I'm not sure if red oak will work.  But I know that white oak is the best.

Answer 2

All woods when wet will bend easier than dry. It helps to use heat also. Red oak would make a bow, but hickory would be stronger. The American Indian used wood from a tree the French called beau d'arch, (hedge), which is stronger than hickory. Depending on the strength of bow you want, unless you are going to use it for archery, most any wood would do.

Answer 3

hello

ive made red oak bows before and will recomend that u heat it instead of making it wet, or did u mean that is freshly cut, u must use dry "seasoned" wood to make a bow, u can also make a rig to make a recurve if thats what ur after, other than that u can just tiller till its good and the oak should asume the shape pretty easily if u have questions send me an e mail.

i agree w the first post, but if its your first bow red oak is fine since (and it is not ot jinx you) most people break their first bows, sad but a true learning experience.  

good luck

i remember my firs bow (o_#)... be careful