Will these boards work

yote20 · June 18, 2025, 08:40:18 AM

I've come across some Ipe lumber. Would this be a good option should I stick to the hickory?

Mo_coon-catcher · June 18, 2025, 12:59:13 PM

Ipe works quite well with hickory or bamboo backing and makes for a quite narrow combo. 1" wide of any style will get you atleast 60# draw. And can do about any style bow you want.

Kyle

Pat B · June 18, 2025, 02:23:53 PM

I agree with Kyle.
My first hickory backed ipe was about 1 1/2" at the fades and 62" long. By the time I tillered it out to my 26" draw the 1/8" hickory backing was thicker than the ipe belly.

yote20 · June 18, 2025, 03:37:40 PM

Well now I need to make a list and pick one. Leaning towards the ipe backed with bamboo. Said he had some bloodwood too. Thought that would make a cool color combo but not sure of durability. Seems like bloodwood is mostly for lamination.

yote20 · June 18, 2025, 05:55:56 PM

I found some hickory today with grain is think is maybe okay. This is a 1x2. Thoughts?

yote20 · June 18, 2025, 05:58:18 PM

This is a 1x6 I feel like I could get one out of one side of this board. Would that be correct?

mmattockx · June 19, 2025, 10:22:13 AM

It's hard to tell from a couple pictures, but the 1x2 looks fine and the 1x6 is likely OK as well.

Mark

yote20 · June 20, 2025, 12:38:05 PM

Quote from: mmattockx on June 19, 2025, 10:22:13 AMIt's hard to tell from a couple pictures, but the 1x2 looks fine and the 1x6 is likely OK as well.

Mark

I appreciate it. Should I still stick to the pyramid style?

yote20 · June 20, 2025, 12:40:17 PM

Quote from: mmattockx on June 17, 2025, 10:52:00 AM
Quote from: Brian from GA on June 17, 2025, 08:19:06 AMI'd definitely go at least 1-5/8" in width if not a full 1-3/4" if using a pyramid design.

I'd go 2-2.25" or more in width if OP wants a hunting weight bow from red oak. With a pyramid design the extra width doesn't hurt performance and gives OP the best chance of getting a functioning bow out of it.

Quote from: yote20 on June 17, 2025, 10:32:57 AMIm not a fan of the looks of a pyramid bow.

That's unfortunate, as it is by far the easiest profile to tiller and get a decent bow from. It's also the lowest stress design, which is a very good idea for red oak.

Quote from: yote20 on June 17, 2025, 10:32:57 AMAm I able to get away with a narrower bow with red oak?

Red oak is pretty much the worst wood that will make a bow, so trying for narrower with it is a bad idea.

Speaking of tillering, how many bows have you made? Experience counts for a lot here if you are trying to make a bow with a lesser wood like red oak.

Quote from: yote20 on June 17, 2025, 10:32:57 AMI am planning to pick up some hickory or maple if I can find it. But until then I want to keep working on something.

It may take you several tries to get a bow out of this, start now with your red oak boards and at least get some practice with them while you sort out a better wood option.

Quote from: yote20 on June 17, 2025, 10:32:57 AMDo you have an example of trapped back? I tried searching but couldn't find any good examples.

Attached is a sketch showing the limb cross section of two ways to trap a limb. The back of the bow is towards the top in the sketch. The one on the right is generally better as the blunt sides are less susceptible to damage than the sharp corner on the belly of the one on the left.

Mark

Regarding tillering. I've only made one that survived, and it was way underweight. I've tried to make several. They were all red oak. Some backed with linen. Some I tried to fire harden because I read somewhere that it would help. They all busted.

Brian from GA · June 21, 2025, 03:46:10 PM

Ipe and bamboo is about as good a combo as you're going to get tbh. Just be sure to use acetone on the wood before glueing. Ipe is oily. I go 1-1/8 with Ipe and have had some great results. w/ a Pyramid I'd probably start 1.75". Pyramid bows grow on you. especially if you round the fades more so they don't look so blocky! Here's a bamboo ipe pyramid I built a while back.

Boo/Ipe Pyramid

It required VERY minimal tillering!

yote20 · June 22, 2025, 03:54:52 PM

Quote from: Brian from GA on June 21, 2025, 03:46:10 PMIpe and bamboo is about as good a combo as you're going to get tbh. Just be sure to use acetone on the wood before glueing. Ipe is oily. I go 1-1/8 with Ipe and have had some great results. w/ a Pyramid I'd probably start 1.75". Pyramid bows grow on you. especially if you round the fades more so they don't look so blocky! Here's a bamboo ipe pyramid I built a while back.

Boo/Ipe Pyramid

It required VERY minimal tillering!

That is an awesome looking bow. I guess when I think pyramid I do think wide flat and blocky looking. I guess thats not always the case.

Pat B · June 22, 2025, 11:33:15 PM

A pyramid bow has a straight taper from fades to the tips no matter how wide it is at the fades. A semi-pyramid bow has parallel limbs out a ways(4" to 8" usually) before the straight taper to the tips. Both are good design for selfbows and backed bows.