Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: bootboy on December 03, 2007, 04:26:17 am

Title: wood backing?
Post by: bootboy on December 03, 2007, 04:26:17 am

Hi there fellas!
  A few days ago I got into a very neat bowyers trade with finnish native.
We're both going to be making one another a bow for christmas. He requested a hickory backed oak pyramid about 160cm long. (i'll figure that out in inches later)
Anyways mates I got myself a problem I've never used any backing apart from sinew and rawhide (i hate rawhide) So how thick should the hickory be for a bow that long? 1/8" 1/4"...1/16th???

How much clamping will be neccesary blah blah blah Im a bit intimidated by this small task.HELP!

Title: Re: wood backing?
Post by: adb on December 03, 2007, 10:40:18 am

Hi,
I use 1/8" quarter sawn hickory, glued with TB3.

Title: Re: wood backing?
Post by: bootboy on December 03, 2007, 01:46:24 pm

brilliant! cheers mate

Title: Re: wood backing?
Post by: Pat B on December 04, 2007, 12:47:17 am

1/8" is good. You can reduce that if necessary...even after it is on the bow.  Ideally, Quarter sawn(lllll) or Bias sawn(/////) is what you want but I have used hickory for backings with all sorts of grain and never had a failure.     Pat

Title: Re: wood backing?
Post by: bootboy on December 04, 2007, 08:14:51 am

So Hickory is some kind of wonder wood for bows?

I've used it to make maces, and found that it cracks and splits rediculously.
Anytips to stop the cracks from forming.

Title: Re: wood backing?
Post by: snedeker on December 04, 2007, 09:36:23 am

I put clamps about every 3", using 3"x1.5"x1/4" scraps of wood as pads, one under each clamp.

IHickory is amazing strong in tension.  I don't know why its splitting on you in your other uses though.

Dave

Title: Re: wood backing?
Post by: Coo-wah-chobee on December 04, 2007, 10:14:12 am

       Dave .....................................Why aint ya workin' and busy ? Ya goofin' off ? ;D.....bob

Title: Re: wood backing?
Post by: snedeker on December 04, 2007, 03:03:11 pm

I hope the CEO doesn't find out.  My wife.

Title: Re: wood backing?
Post by: Coo-wah-chobee on December 04, 2007, 03:04:57 pm

........................ :D :D :D Knows what ya mean ! :o :o :o............bob