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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: AKmud on April 20, 2009, 03:42:00 AM

Title: Jatoba board bow?
Post by: AKmud on April 20, 2009, 03:42:00 AM

I have a nice piece of Jatoba that I have been avoiding, but I need a new project.  Will a good grained Jatoba board work unbacked for a 50-60# bow or do I need to back it?  If I end up backing it, what would be a good combo?

Title: Re: Jatoba board bow?
Post by: SteveD on April 20, 2009, 05:57:00 AM

I have just started a Bamboo backed Jatoba. This is my first attempt with Jatoba. My understanding that it is on par with ipe as far as density.

Title: Re: Jatoba board bow?
Post by: Broke another one on April 20, 2009, 06:23:00 AM

Im new to this but IPE is 1.08 SG. If thats what Jatoba is then it would make a nice bow wood, you could back it with Bamboo. Bamboo takes more set per mass than most hardwoods and when bamboo is tempered with heat it can gain in compression strength and elasticity.

Title: Re: Jatoba board bow?
Post by: Pat B on April 20, 2009, 07:53:00 AM

I've not used jatoba for a bow but I know others that have. It does make good backed bows, either with boo or hickory. It may make a selfbow is the grain is good.
   You DO NOT want to temper boo for a backing. Tempering boo for a bell is a good idea.

Title: Re: Jatoba board bow?
Post by: Tilbilly on April 25, 2009, 10:29:00 PM

I once asked Marc St.Louis, on behalf of someone else, about backing Jatoba. His response was that Jatoba frets VERY easily, keep the bow long and use hickory backing .