Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: koan on August 12, 2013, 07:15:40 pm
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Been lookin for stuff I can do on the porch while my knees healin up.... I dug up some old projects to tinker with.. Got some laminations to glue up... I have an ERC board roughed out about 3/8 thick with a 3/4 " handle section and 62" long. My question is this, I have an 1/8" ash or a 1/16" hickory backing strip. Wich one should I use? I know either will work, but wich ones better for ERC? ERC is mostly heartwood. Just gluing in a couple in. of reflex and goin for a basic eliptical tiller, 40-45 #'s @ 27". Not sure what to expect from ERC....and should i trap the back? Im personally thinkin the ash with a very rounded belly and slightly trapped back. Never used this combo before so im askin the experts....thanks folks... Brian
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Well, I'm not an expert, but cedar/hickory is a long-proven combo. I've never tried ash as a backing, but it would probably work too. It's not quite as bulletproof as hickory, though. I think if you're gonna use hickory, the 1/16" thin strip that you have would be the way to go with a lighter belly wood like cedar, and shouldn't need trapping.
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Makes sense steve. I hafta admit im leanin towards the ash mostly because its twice as thick as my hickory and I really have little to no faith in the ERC... Flat or rounded belly?
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I've used Ash on Hop Hornbeam, but not on cedar. ERC, I've either left the sapwood on or backed it with bamboo or rawhide.
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I have used the ash to back more ash and to back red oak. The red oak/ ash combo worked great, i would definately do it again. I really dont get excited bout buildin laminates, but gluin stuff up is bout all i can do right now, lol.... Brian
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I would think bamboo would be to strong for erc.... I think maybe im underestimating the erc.
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You are, ;) Bamboo is excellent with ERC.
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Eddie my piece has little to no sapwood and seems very porous
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Ok... Im gonna use the hickory. Any ideas on belly profile? My only experience with ERC is carvin a boat paddle, lol( this piece is the other half of that) :laugh:
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I've gone dead flat,to semi crowned wide,to elb bellies/cross sections with erc and all worked just fine...ya sure you a have enough thickness? 3/8" isn't much for erc(pending on density)...and like yew it will end up being thicker than the other woods(all else equal) ...might have to throw a core lam in there?
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I was wonderin bout that myself. These were all scraps left from other projects.. They are 1 1/2" wide. Just measured erc thickness and its actually 5/16".. Blackhawk you are probably right. I have the ash or i have some really thin walnut, like 1/32-1/16"... I have young nephews & neices needin bows so a 20#er aint a bad thing either, lol. I cant get to the saw right now or i could make somethin more suitable... Hell, if i could use the saw I'd be workin on self bows, lol
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Well, I'm not an expert, but cedar/hickory is a long-proven combo. I've never tried ash as a backing, but it would probably work too. It's not quite as bulletproof as hickory, though. I think if you're gonna use hickory, the 1/16" thin strip that you have would be the way to go with a lighter belly wood like cedar, and shouldn't need trapping.
Yes it is - if the grain is good ash is virually unbreakable!
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I agree Mike, i have had great luck with it, just gotta keep in mind like hickory, the hotbox is your best freind during a build ;).... I really dont know what to expect from the erc... I got enuff lams to do 2 glue ups and two 14 yr old twin nephews that been eye ballin my bows, lol. Gonna try and get em glued up today. Gonna aim for 35-40#'s. on Blackhawks reccomendation im gonna put a thin power lam of walnut just to make sure i got enuff wood... Brian
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That will be a sharp lookin' bow with the contrast between the cedar, walnut, and hickory, too.
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Ya Steve, it oughta be purdy ;)... The other will be ash backed ash with a lil walnut inda middle. These boys only got a 24" draw and im gonna leave the bows at 60" so they will be barely stressed and give the twins some growin room ;).. This wll be my 3rd attempt at makin them bows... They keep out growin em as fast as i biuld em, lol
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That will be a sharp lookin' bow with the contrast between the cedar, walnut, and hickory, too.
Your right about that.....I just glued up a hickory backed osage with a walnut core tri lam last night 8) I like walnut for core wood...used it before in a boo backed yew tri lam...looks sharp,and has decent properties for a core.....it'll be light in the hand for sure using those woods ;)
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That does sound purdy ;D... I know its kinda taboo with some( and this could be a whole seperate topic) but my hickory backer is mostly heartwood... I have seen several highly stressed bows with this set up, but i got to admit ima little apprehensive bout it, lol... Will see 8)... Brian