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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: bubby on March 23, 2009, 11:12:00 AM

Title: oak bow
Post by: bubby on March 23, 2009, 11:12:00 AM

i was thinking of building aall oak laminated bow. any suggestions?

Title: Re: oak bow
Post by: Pat B on March 23, 2009, 12:49:00 PM

Why laminated? A well made oak self bow can shoot just as well.

Title: Re: oak bow
Post by: bubby on March 23, 2009, 03:29:00 PM

i've got some oak boards and i thought i could r/d and it would hold it better

Title: Re: oak bow
Post by: Pat B on March 23, 2009, 04:18:00 PM

I'm sure it could be done but oak isn't the best candidate for that design.

Title: Re: oak bow
Post by: bubby on March 23, 2009, 06:25:00 PM

thank's, I've been building some board bows and a bamboo backed epay flatbow that I bought floor tillered and just wanted to try some differant methods. Quess I should drive the 80 mile round trip  to get some hickory boards. Thank's for replying

Title: Re: oak bow
Post by: bubby on March 24, 2009, 12:08:00 PM

I was wondering what makes oak a poor choice to lam. haven't built alot of bows, still learning

Title: Re: oak bow
Post by: John Scifres on March 24, 2009, 12:50:00 PM

I built quite a few kid's bows use 1/4" oak slats backed with edge-grain 1/4" oak slats.  They made a bow but no matter how much reflex I glued in, it would eventually follow the string mercilessly.  This was early in my bowmaking so I am sure I could do better now.

Title: Re: oak bow
Post by: Pat B on March 24, 2009, 02:17:00 PM

Oak might make a core lam but it doesn't have the compression strength needed for a belly lam nor does it the tension strength necessary for a back lam, especially in a highly stressed design like a R/D bow.
   I have made some very good hickory backed red oak bows, either with a flat profile or reflexed profile(which are now flat).

Title: Re: oak bow
Post by: bubby on March 24, 2009, 03:47:00 PM

I see why I shouldn't use the oak like I wanted, all i've made so far are oak bows, except for the epay. what about cedar, maple or what other woods will work well. no local access to osage, my dad is from Missoury and he said it was everywhere. anyway, thanks for replying

Title: Re: oak bow
Post by: bubby on March 24, 2009, 04:23:00 PM

quess I should proof read what I'm writing, spelled Missouri wrong, sorry.

Title: Re: oak bow
Post by: Roy Steele on March 26, 2009, 05:18:00 PM

Again PATS said it all.

Title: Re: oak bow
Post by: Van Rowan on March 27, 2009, 06:41:00 PM

What about hackberry as bow wood with no laminations.

Title: Re: oak bow
Post by: bubby on March 31, 2009, 06:27:00 PM

not sure what hackberry is, how about blue gum eucaliptus