Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: shiraforge on August 22, 2012, 10:58:27 pm

Title: ipe boards
Post by: shiraforge on August 22, 2012, 10:58:27 pm

I have some ipe deckboards, 3/4 by 3.5.  Will they work for making bows.

Title: Re: ipe boards
Post by: okie64 on August 22, 2012, 11:06:04 pm

As long as they have straight grain and no knots they will work fine with a hickory or bamboo backing. Never tried one without a backing but Ive seen a few on here. Ipe is very dense wood and strong in compression.

Title: Re: ipe boards
Post by: JackCrafty on August 22, 2012, 11:13:00 pm

Yes. ;D

Title: Re: ipe boards
Post by: tattoo dave on August 22, 2012, 11:13:30 pm

I made an ipe self bow once. Turned out sweet, and shoots great!

Tattoo Dave

Title: Re: ipe boards
Post by: RobWiden on August 23, 2012, 01:30:25 pm

    I only started using ipe this year, I love the stuff. I've been backing them with hickory and they make sweet bows. So nice I had to go back and get three more boards - enough for about twenty longbows.

Title: Re: ipe boards
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on August 23, 2012, 01:42:34 pm

I have made three BBI's and never even considered studying the boards grain. I got the most from the board I could and made three bows. All shoot and one just got shot in last night.

Title: Re: ipe boards
Post by: gutpile on August 23, 2012, 02:30:32 pm

just make sure you wear a mask of some sort..very toxic dust..gut

Title: Re: ipe boards
Post by: missilemaster on August 23, 2012, 11:57:38 pm

The straighter the grain is, the further you can bend it into a glued up reflex without it splintering.

Title: Re: ipe boards
Post by: DarkSoul on August 24, 2012, 05:48:06 am

Avoid cross grain.

And try to pick a surfaced board. Unsurfaced boards of ipé tend to be nearly impossible to read the grain. A large knot could very well be hidden underneath the rough surface.

Also try to select a piece with high specific gravity. You can tell by the color (darker color tends to have higher SG), the sound when you tap the piece (higher 'ring' to it with higher SG) and workability. Bring a scraper to the lumberyard and see how easy it is to remove wood.

Title: Re: ipe boards
Post by: jeffhalfrack on August 24, 2012, 05:01:17 pm

I  have  a  question,,,what  would  a  64" hic  backed  flat bow stiff handle  lay out be???  I  have a  board  and never  tried  one  thanks  JeffW

Title: Re: ipe boards
Post by: bubby on August 24, 2012, 07:00:29 pm

1 1/4" wide and either straight taper to tips or go 2/3 before you taper to tip's, i've done both with success, but i prefer the latter, Bub