Curly Maple?

[sleek]

Anyone have any experience with using curly maple as a self bow or laminate?

[medicinewheel]

Yes! - they all fretted right at the curls... 

[stuckinthemud]

It'd make a beautiful riser though

[Eric Krewson]

Sandwiched between fiberglass lams it would be OK.

I have worked very curly maple in a number of flintlock stocks, the dark curls are usually very hard wood but the lighter wood between the curls is soft and often splintery, not a good combination for bows.

I have never tried to make a bow out of curly maple so I am only speculating about it's bow making property's from what I have seen putting while a chisel and gouge to the wood.

[mmattockx]

It'd make a beautiful riser though

+1. In a low stress area of the riser it would look great, but I can't imagine trying to bend it with the swirling grain patterns.


Mark

[Pat B]

I think Clint(Osage outlaw) built one a few years ago. Maybe he'll chime in.

[Hamish]

Your best chance for success, would be very lightly curled maple, with wider than usual limbs. Risk vs reward is too much for my liking. I have had some success with lightly curled, very dense exotic hardwoods, but I put that down to dumb luck, rather than a place of skill or knowledge.

[medicinewheel]

Your best chance for success, would be very lightly curled maple, with wider than usual limbs. ...

That is exactly what I tried. Didn't work at all.
Eurasian hornbeam is a very tough timber but I have not seen any without very light curls. I tried making a bow from a piece with curls almost not visible and the same thing happend.

[sleek]

Thanks folks, I think ill leave this stuff for the gun stocks and firewood.  I did get a nice big cookie to make a live edge table.