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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Wolftrail on June 30, 2018, 12:38:40 AM

Title: Red oak and Maple
Post by: Wolftrail on June 30, 2018, 12:38:40 AM

Has anyone ever built a Maple backed red oak bow.  If so what were the specs and did it make a decent bow.

Title: Re: Red oak and Maple
Post by: Pat B on June 30, 2018, 11:41:30 AM

I built a 66" hickory backed red oak years ago and it still shoots well. It is 2 1/2" at the fades and tapers to 3/8" tips. Maple should be a very good backing for red oak.

Title: Re: Red oak and Maple
Post by: Wolftrail on June 30, 2018, 12:40:39 PM

I plan on using maple that is 1 1/2" at the fades.  Anyway I'll give it a shot.

Title: Re: Red oak and Maple
Post by: Wolftrail on July 01, 2018, 01:20:21 PM

Pat,  can you use a heat gun to bend subtle reflexes in red oak. Or does it require steam, this is lumber yard RO.

Title: Re: Red oak and Maple
Post by: Pat B on July 01, 2018, 02:47:17 PM

I've never tried either with red oak but you can add reflex when you glue it up. That's probably your best bet.

Title: Re: Red oak and Maple
Post by: mrbxzzz on October 10, 2018, 07:04:58 PM

Yes! It works well really.  I finished a 72" long maple backed red oak board bow and it turned out really great. 

I was a amateur bowyer then so it's wins no awards for tiller and draw weight (around 25-30 #)

The piece of maple I used to back it wasn't too great either with some wonks grain but it held under at lower weight

(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt212/Brock_Brolese/20181010_184214_zpszt9p6b45.jpg) (http://s613.photobucket.com/user/Brock_Brolese/media/20181010_184214_zpszt9p6b45.jpg.html)

Title: Re: Red oak and Maple
Post by: mrbxzzz on October 10, 2018, 07:12:44 PM

(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt212/Brock_Brolese/20181010_184207_zpsdjtneofp.jpg) (http://s613.photobucket.com/user/Brock_Brolese/media/20181010_184207_zpsdjtneofp.jpg.html)
(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt212/Brock_Brolese/20181010_184214_zpszt9p6b45.jpg) (http://s613.photobucket.com/user/Brock_Brolese/media/20181010_184214_zpszt9p6b45.jpg.html)
(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt212/Brock_Brolese/20181010_184234_zpsbywyjeed.jpg) (http://s613.photobucket.com/user/Brock_Brolese/media/20181010_184234_zpsbywyjeed.jpg.html)
(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt212/Brock_Brolese/20181010_184241_zps3r03dmal.jpg) (http://s613.photobucket.com/user/Brock_Brolese/media/20181010_184241_zps3r03dmal.jpg.html)
(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt212/Brock_Brolese/20181010_184313_zpszzalqxfk.jpg)[/URL (http://s613.photobucket.com/user/Brock_Brolese/media/20181010_184313_zpszzalqxfk.jpg.html)

Title: Re: Red oak and Maple
Post by: Wolftrail on October 10, 2018, 11:52:14 PM

Turned out good.  Now go out and shoot about 300 arrows with it.

Title: Re: Red oak and Maple
Post by: mrbxzzz on October 11, 2018, 03:23:09 PM

I've easily shot more than 300 arrows with it, it did take quite a bit of set and lost arrow speed but the materials are reliable and pretty.

Would love to see how you get on with your bow.