Trad Gang
Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Zradix on July 01, 2014, 04:33:00 PM
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Hey guys,
Thinking of getting one of Pinehollow's kits.
I really prefer working with osage..but I'd like to try something different..and save a little $$$$..
He has a hickory backed kit with a choice of belly woods.
Which would you choose of the below choices?...and if you'd really like to help me out a "why you'd choose" would be great!
It'll be for a mild r/d. Around 66" would like to achieve 45-50#@28"
Thanks
here's the choices...
Eastern Red Cedar
Black Walnut
Red Elm
Black Locust
Hickory
Sassafras
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No osage or ipe? Those would be my choice.
Here are my opinions...
ERC make a very nice bow backed with hickory but ERC is unpredictable. Black locust would work but it will fret if you don't do your part. Black walnut can be OK but it makes a better core wood. Hickory backed hickory makes a good combo if you don't live in a high humidity area. Red elm is excellent bow wood and may work well with hickory backing. Maple backing would be better.
Sassafras can be brittle but a thin hickory or maple backing should do OK.
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Thanks Pat.
Osage is my 1st choice too. Just thinking about something different.
I've done a little work with ipe. Every time I work with it I get a stronger and stronger reaction...time to quit.
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Black locust is tricky like Pat said, but if you can get it so it doesn't fret I think backing isn't needed as it's a fairly tension strong wood.
I agree with most of what Pat said too, but I'd like to try a hickory backed walnut as long as the hickory was thin. I know it makes a great core wood, and I've heard of success with people making very fast backed bows out of it as well. But I don't know how hard it is to get right.
I think hickory backed elm or hickory are probably your safest bets.
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I've never worked with it, but ERC is very pretty. I've also heard that it has a tendency to go "kaboom" now and then, though.
I really like red elm and it's also a good looking wood. A hickory backed red elm board bow was one of my favorites. It was quick, very light in the hand, and only took about a half inch of set. I thought I did a good job tillering it, but after a couple of weeks it started to chrysal in just one spot, 10" from the tip of the top limb. I'll be making another soon.
Good luck on your bow!
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I vote Red Elm. I had a hickory backed Red Elm Mollegabet bow that was a gift from a bowyer up in Michigan. Snappy shooter, for sure.
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Have you made a bow before?
If this is your first there are a lot of other board bow type options for you to experiment with at a much lower cost.
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Eric,
I have made just a few...oak pyr.,bbo, hick wal osage tri, ....bbo was my best. The tri was nice but I didn't tiller quite right and was pushing too short a length..."pop"
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I would recommend away from ERC. I've had some good experiences with it, but it's really hard to get a clean piece (1 in 100 if you're lucky and know what to look for) and it needs to be pretty wide and/or long to work well.
When in doubt go for highest density wood for the belly ... for me it'd be black locust hands down from that group ... thats partly cause I don't have a BL bow ... so take it with a grain of salt.
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lol..Thanks Ben.
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Are there any hardwood lumberyards in your area? You'd get to look at the grain on the board plus save some $ that way. The one in my area has red elm, hickory, walnut, hard maple, and aromatic cedar (looks like ERC to me). As always, the tough part is finding a board good enough to make a bow from. They always look so much better in the store than they do when I get them home. :)
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I wish I had a good lumber yard around.
...2xX's and plywood is about it...lol
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John, talk to Mike at Pine Hollow and see what he recommends. Great guy and very knowledgable.