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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: longrifle on February 25, 2016, 12:40:00 PM

Title: Soft maple for lams??????
Post by: longrifle on February 25, 2016, 12:40:00 PM

Wondering if using soft maple for glass bow lams is OK.
I've only used hard maple , and don't want to build a heartache.

Title: Re: Soft maple for lams??????
Post by: monterey on February 25, 2016, 12:43:00 PM

There are quite a few various maples of varying hardness.  Do you know which one you are considering?

Title: Re: Soft maple for lams??????
Post by: Pat B on February 25, 2016, 01:03:00 PM

I would not consider soft maple, especially if you have other options.

Title: Re: Soft maple for lams??????
Post by: KenH on February 25, 2016, 03:43:00 PM

Since 88% of the strength of a wood-glass composite bow comes from the GLASS, the kind of WOOD in between really isn't all that important.  I wouldn't use Balsa or Aspen, but I've used pine, fir, aromatic red cedar and other softer wood with no appreciable difference between those and bows of the same design with fancy, expensive wood.

Title: Re: Soft maple for lams??????
Post by: kennym on February 25, 2016, 05:22:00 PM

I wouldn't , but that's just me. I've used red cedar and such for veneers but not for all the core. Some do tho I believe.

But like Pat said, why do it if you have something better available?

Title: Re: Soft maple for lams??????
Post by: longrifle on February 25, 2016, 08:21:00 PM

Ok I hear what your saying men.

Title: Re: Soft maple for lams??????
Post by: Pago on February 28, 2016, 03:59:00 PM

Do any of you know if the maple in Lowe's/Home Depot is hard or soft?  I have bought a few pieces and it seems like hard to me but I have no grounds for comparison.

Title: Re: Soft maple for lams??????
Post by: monterey on February 28, 2016, 05:58:00 PM

It's labeled Acer Sachareum (spelling alert).  If it's labeled accurately, then that would be sugar maple or hard maple.  The stuff I have worked seemed pretty hard.

Title: Re: Soft maple for lams??????
Post by: Pago on February 29, 2016, 12:30:00 AM

Thanks for that.

Title: Re: Soft maple for lams??????
Post by: inksoup on February 29, 2016, 05:21:00 AM

RE: KenH

did you really try with pine? is there any result, broken limps, power, picture according to this...

best.

Title: Re: Soft maple for lams??????
Post by: Pago on March 01, 2016, 01:25:00 PM

In the interest of sharing information I thought some might find this usefull.

 http://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/differences-between-hard-maple-and-soft-maple/

From what I can tell the maple my Home Depot is carrying is either Red Maple or Hard Maple. I don't want to get ahead of myself but I believe it is actually hard maple.