Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: MAK on May 16, 2009, 10:02:47 pm
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I have a 1/16" thick piece of quatersawn hickory backing that is 67" long. Could I still use it that thin for backing? If so, on what wood? Does that even matter?
I have a 26" draw and like my bows between 45-55 lbs.
Thanks for any input guys. I've made a bunch of fiberglass bows, and now I'm trying to learn this wood/bamboo only stuff.
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i used a backing that was .090" once, just over 1/16 and it failed. of course it was on osage so that may make a big difference.
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I was thinking that if I used it, it would be on cherry. Wouldn't cherry be easier than osage at 1/16"?
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I've built five cherry bows. The first two were staves that I chased a single ring down on and backed them with linen canvas. The last three I backed with hickory. The last three were good straight grain rift sawn cherry board bows that I glued a 3/16 Hickory strip to. After bandsawing the profiles I used a scraper to take the hickory backing down to a little under 1/8. All five have survived a couple of hundred arrows and the draw weight ranges are 40-50 lbs at 28. Just make sure you have a good straight grained board and don't sand your backing to aggressively. Have fun.
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i think that would work ok for cherry. i have used hickory on cherrry several times. makes a great bow that is light in the hand. good luck with it.
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Thanks guys.
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The hickory should be strong enough at 1/16 if the proper belly wood was used. Cherry, black walnut, ERC, maple, etc should do well with a thin hickory backing.