Ash Tree Long Bows: How to Harvest, Split and Dry Wood for Bow Making

We’ve recently been busy harvesting wood for future courses as part of our woodland management at Manor Wood. When felling trees, I’m already thinking about which sections will be best for tool handles, furniture, spoons, and bowls. Most importantly, though, I’m on the lookout for staves to make longbows.

Why Ash Trees Make Good Bows

While many types of wood can be used to make bows, the tree we have in abundance in our woodland is the ash tree. Historically, other species like yew were preferred, but ash has always been a popular second choice in Europe. Although an ash bow cannot handle the extreme stress required for a heavy medieval war bow, it performs well as a hunting or practice bow, perfect for modern archers who want to shoot casually.

Choosing the Right Ash Trees

Harvesting ash trees for bow making is a task best done in winter. During the dormant period of the winter months, the sap levels in the trees drop, resulting in lower moisture content when the wood is cut. When searching for ash trees suitable for bow making, I look for a straight section at least 6 feet long, free of visible knots or branches. Even-aged stands of trees, where they compete for light, often grow straighter with fewer twists in the grain. However, you can never be completely certain how straight the grain runs through the tree until it is split on the ground.

Splitting Ash Logs for Bow Staves

Once the tree is felled, the log can be cut to length and then split into staves. To split larger logs, I often use a combination of axes, wedges, and a maul. The key to splitting, or "cleaving," is to divide the log into two halves of equal mass to ensure the split runs straight. If the split is off-centre, it will veer to one side, resulting in tapered staves.

As the log is halved and then quartered, more precise tools, such as a froe, can be used to guide the split accurately along the length of the wood. The goal is to produce several straight staves at least two inches in diameter. This allows for some warping during the

drying process without compromising the final dimensions needed for the bow.

Drying Ash Staves

Long-lasting bows must be made from dry wood. The fibres of green, freshly cut wood are more prone to deform under stress and lack the elasticity required for a bow. The drying process can take up to two years for some types of wood, but with some assistance, we can dry our ash staves in about a year.

After the staves are split from the log, the bark is peeled away using a drawknife. Removing the bark speeds up the drying process and reduces the risk of bark beetles damaging the staves as they dry. I store the staves in the woodland during their first summer. The higher moisture levels in the woodland compared to the surrounding environment allow for slow, controlled drying. Rapid exposure to high temperatures can cause green wood to twist, warp, or crack as moisture is forced out too quickly.

In autumn, as temperatures drop, I move the staves indoors for the final stages of drying. Placing them near the wood burner ensures that any remaining moisture is gradually removed, leaving the staves ready to be transformed into bows.

Learn Bow Making at Manor Wood

If you’re interested in making a bow, we offer bow-making classes in our woodland workshop at Manor Wood. During the course, you’ll receive a dry, pre-prepared stave ready to carve using hand tools, with guidance from Matt. By the end of the day, you’ll be shooting arrows with your very own ash longbow!