Trad Gang
Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: coaster500 on May 02, 2009, 11:42:00 AM
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I am new to traditional archery. I purchased a Don Dow Longbow from your classified and am really enjoying it. I am thinking about having a takedown longbow built. I know some woods are not good limb woods and but can be laminated over core woods for looks. My question is what woods make the best core woods. I like the look of highly figured woods like Bacote, Zebra, Striped Ebony etc but are they good as core woods. I have read that solid limbs like walnut and maple are more durable than laminated limbs. After a life time hunting with firearms and compound bows, this is very refreshing.
Thanks
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Birdseye maple is a good limb wood. I have a birdseye maple and bacote Kota Killum that is the best looking bow I own and its a good shooter also. Thanks Travis
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I like lighter weight cores with figured veneers over them. A-boo ,red elm and walnut are all good core woods.
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This is part of a quote from a bow builder i am talking with. This is why I am asking questions? He seems to think solid limbs are better than laminated veneers, if I am reading this right he thinks they are more durable?
QUOTE ....Walnut or red elm limb woods, also I don't use veneers, the wood you see through the glass is the actual working wood, and because I don't use veneers, I can't use certain woods...Ebony is too brittle, zebra wood is too unstable, cocobolo is too oily... I build these bows to last, and certain woods just don't cut it very well.........Bocote is a good choice, and very nice looking, but Walnut and red elm are my best performers, that's why I recommend them, but I can do about anything you would want, although some wood is very hard to get and very expensive
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I build my bows mostly with four wood lams. The outer limb faces (under the glass) can be almost any wood if kept thin. I normally make my outer lams .060-.075 thick. My core lams can go quite a bit over .100 each, and do most of the work. I like either action-bamboo (laminated product), maple, or red elm for core lams.