quilted maple? curly maple?

Swiftspeed10 · January 30, 2011, 05:31:00 PM

Is there a difference between quilted and curly maple? For my new centaur I want a really light swirly/3d looking "wow" wood and I was thinking about the maple.

If you guys could post pics or give advise on other veneer options for what im looking for I would appreciate it greatly.

DannyBows · January 30, 2011, 07:10:00 PM

I love the Curly/Quilted/Tiger Maples for just that 3D look. This Pronghorn is Tiger Maple. You can't see it in these pics, but the grain looks a good 1/2" deep when you look into it and move it around.

lbows · January 30, 2011, 08:50:00 PM

I have a Dwyer longbow with quilted maple for me quilted maple is as wow as you can get. If you would like to see pictures of it, it's on there web site.

Brian P. · January 30, 2011, 09:02:00 PM

This is Quilted Maple on a Caribow Silver Fox. It has a stain on it to match the Bocote in the riser.

And this is also Quilted on another Silver Fox. This set dyed to match the Goncalo Alves in the riser.

Kevin Winkler · January 30, 2011, 09:20:00 PM

I also like the maple veneers, but decided on the Tamo Ash for my new Shrew and I really like how it turned out. Here is what is looks like with a light stain on my Shrew

DannyBows · January 30, 2011, 09:34:00 PM

Wow, that Tamo Ash is stunning!

Swiftspeed10 · January 30, 2011, 09:59:00 PM

Tamo ash with a super super light stain might be what I want.

Dick in Seattle · January 30, 2011, 10:02:00 PM

Speaking just to the woods themselves, tiger or curly maple usually refers to wood from Eastern Maples and is pretty hard stuff. Quilted maple is usually from Western Maples and is noticeably softer to work. I used to love to use quilted for muzzle loading stocks but didn't trust it for center fire. All good for bow veneers.

NBK · January 31, 2011, 12:41:00 AM

Here's some pics of quilted maple on my endeavor.

Swiftspeed10 · January 31, 2011, 12:45:00 AM

NBK im so jelous I love your Endeavor's look I wish mine looked like it.

Mike Most · January 31, 2011, 09:09:00 AM

this is a bow I did for my son in law, it has bacote limbs with the maple riser,

Friend · January 31, 2011, 09:21:00 AM

swiftspeed10,

Make sure you are comparing apples to apples.

The tiger maple with a little darker stain is stunning and would possibliy make your decision a little more difficult.

I am actually quite fond of all three with my preferred darker stain.

Swiftspeed10 · January 31, 2011, 03:33:00 PM

guys keep the pics coming of 3d/light colored quilted/curly/striped woods for ideas.

firsted · January 31, 2011, 04:00:00 PM

So back to the original question (I'm curious, too)...is there a difference between curly & quilted maple?
Thanks,

Eddie Paulsgrove

January 31, 2011, 05:14:00 PM

Here's another question: I am about to order a new Pronghorn. I have a bow with Tamo Ash veneers already (spectacular) and have had a bow with "fiddleback" maple veneers. I would like a similarly figured veneer on my new Pronghorn but I want it to be gray-- can these veneers be successfully dyed to match a gray riser? Would they "pop" as well as in brown stain?

Kevin Winkler · January 31, 2011, 06:29:00 PM

huntryx, check out this thread. Lots of different woods with gray stain.

Huntschool · February 01, 2011, 03:25:00 PM

Yes.. Maple can be dyed any color, any depth (to a limit) just depends on what the bow builder is willing to do. Most hardwoods require a dye with moderate penetration. An Aniline or some solvent based dye will give great color but you have to go slow so as not to make it too deep. Kinda like doing the stain thing on wood arrows....

You can make it look like the "Greybark" on your widow or even darker..... The "POP" coms from the wood grain. An oil finish, like on really good gunstocks really makes the grain come out but ya can't do oil on a bow with glass overlays...

David Bartholomew · February 01, 2011, 03:43:00 PM

Michael (NBK),

Dave makes one heck of nice bow!

David

February 01, 2011, 08:04:00 PM

Kevin-- which thread?

Kapellmeister · February 01, 2011, 08:13:00 PM

It's just the figure in the wood...

This is quilted maple:

This is curly (otherwise known as tiger) maple:

This is birds eye maple:

I'm a sucker for curly maple... I have a flintlock rifle, a banjo, a mandolin, a Fedora recurve bow, and even a peg rail on the wall in curly maple!