Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Prarie Bowyer on October 15, 2011, 03:45:45 am

Title: hickory heart wood for backed bow bellies?
Post by: Prarie Bowyer on October 15, 2011, 03:45:45 am

Anyone know how well this works out?

Title: Re: hickory heart wood for backed bow bellies?
Post by: Pat B on October 15, 2011, 10:48:48 am

Hickory heartwood is more brittle than the sapwood. I think I'd stick with sapwood for backing.

Title: Re: hickory heart wood for backed bow bellies?
Post by: backgardenbowyer on October 15, 2011, 08:48:07 pm

I've made a couple of ELBs with hickory backings that had a mixture of heartwood and sapwood in them and the bows seems to be holding up fine - but I do think the heartwood might well be more brittle

Title: Re: hickory heart wood for backed bow bellies?
Post by: bubby on October 15, 2011, 08:58:55 pm

it says "for backed bow belly's", I think he's talking about useing it for belly's, or am I reading it wrong, Bub

Title: Re: hickory heart wood for backed bow bellies?
Post by: Pat B on October 15, 2011, 09:46:39 pm

Should be fine for bellys.

Title: Re: hickory heart wood for backed bow bellies?
Post by: adb on October 15, 2011, 10:20:19 pm

I've had real bad luck with hickory heartwood, as mentioned, being very brittle.

Title: Re: hickory heart wood for backed bow bellies?
Post by: Prarie Bowyer on October 19, 2011, 08:15:48 pm

Yes,  I'll be backing with bamboo.  The local source is running low on knot free sap wood 4/4.  I can get 1/2" BUT the price structure changes.  As 4/4 I pay per board foot, rip of a 1/4" and have a piece just over 5/8" and the 1/4".  Then I can save the thin slices and glue several togeather in a deeper form.  Else I just get the one belly for about the same money.

Title: Re: hickory heart wood for backed bow bellies?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on October 21, 2011, 03:28:17 pm

My opinion is the boo will absolutely crush the heartwood and chrysal like a sum gun. I have built a few from heartwood and it worked as a self bow fine. The heartwood was VERY light in physical weight. The whole 62" bow weight 14 oz.

Title: Re: hickory heart wood for backed bow bellies?
Post by: bubby on October 22, 2011, 08:54:51 pm

 I say build one and see what happens, like Pat I think you'll be fine, just thin the boo good ,  bub

Title: Re: hickory heart wood for backed bow bellies?
Post by: Prarie Bowyer on October 24, 2011, 12:32:17 pm

by local source I mean 1 hour drive.  I'm not going that far to make an experiment.  I'll switch to Birch which ranks similarily on the properties charts.  I also have two big flitched of pretty clear maple, even though I vowed not to use it again.