Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: toomanyknots on December 06, 2012, 11:17:06 pm

Title: Looking to make a "something" backed cedar elb...
Post by: toomanyknots on December 06, 2012, 11:17:06 pm
I'm lookin to make a backed cedar elb. I was walking around wookcrafters today, and the spanish cedar was just gorgeous. I don't know how spanish cedar does as a bow, but I am seriously thinking of making an elb out of it. I was wondering what would be a good choice to back it with? Hickory? Would hickory be too powerful? Maple? White Oak?  :o
Title: Re: Looking to make a "something" backed cedar elb...
Post by: DavidV on December 07, 2012, 12:17:41 am
http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/cedar,%20spanish.htm

You may want to read this. It doesn't sound like a very good bow wood even if backed.
Title: Re: Looking to make a "something" backed cedar elb...
Post by: toomanyknots on December 07, 2012, 12:51:38 am
http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/cedar,%20spanish.htm

You may want to read this. It doesn't sound like a very good bow wood even if backed.

Hmm, well I guess there is always ERC.
Title: Re: Looking to make a "something" backed cedar elb...
Post by: Roy on December 07, 2012, 02:13:12 am
I didn't think ELB's were supposed to be backed?
Title: Re: Looking to make a "something" backed cedar elb...
Post by: randman on December 07, 2012, 05:10:28 am
Spanish cedar (or Cuban Cedar) is soft and beautiful to carve. Used to make cigar boxes and Classical guitar necks. Got real doubts about using it as bow material. Having worked with it before, I would think if you backed it with hickory or some other tension strong wood it would just crush it.
Title: Re: Looking to make a "something" backed cedar elb...
Post by: Del the cat on December 07, 2012, 06:47:57 am
I didn't think ELB's were supposed to be backed?
ELBs (and warbows) are traditionally Yew heart wood with their natural sapwood as the back.
The Victorian style of ELB was often Lemonwood backed with Hickory.
Del
Title: Re: Looking to make a "something" backed cedar elb...
Post by: Hrothgar on December 07, 2012, 08:41:30 am
If you can get hold of some eastern red cedar, which is techically a juniper, this can work. And maybe back it with leather.
Title: Re: Looking to make a "something" backed cedar elb...
Post by: blackhawk on December 07, 2012, 09:46:36 am
I have a sneaking suspicion that you and Spanish cedar will not get along well and be the best of friends  :laugh:
Title: Re: Looking to make a "something" backed cedar elb...
Post by: killir duck on December 07, 2012, 12:45:06 pm
i'd skip it and get some ERC and back it with heavy rawhide
Title: Re: Looking to make a "something" backed cedar elb...
Post by: JW_Halverson on December 07, 2012, 01:55:31 pm
I have some eally nice curly maple in 1x4 and I have been wanting to get my mitts on some spanish cedar to go with it.  Thinking a nice cigar humidor would be in order.  ...since neither makes a good bow!
Title: Re: Looking to make a "something" backed cedar elb...
Post by: toomanyknots on December 07, 2012, 03:29:13 pm
Alrighty, I will just say no to the spanish cedar,  ;D. ERC it is.
Title: Re: Looking to make a "something" backed cedar elb...
Post by: Onebowonder on December 07, 2012, 03:57:34 pm
ERC makes a nice cigar box/humidor too, but it's not so smooth to work with as Cuban Cedar.

OneBow
Title: Re: Looking to make a "something" backed cedar elb...
Post by: DavidV on December 07, 2012, 06:14:51 pm
Anybody else hate common names???

Eastern Red Cedar is a juniper, Spanish Cedar is mahogany. It's pretty hard to tell other students in your Nursery and Lanscaping class that what they've been calling cedar their whole life is actually something called juniper... and in fact there aren't even true cedars growing here.