Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: toomanyknots on March 27, 2014, 02:14:01 pm
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It seems to me if ipe has good grain, it should be able to make an unbacked bow pretty easy? When I was making some reflexed ipe bows, the ipe lam (pretty thick) would bend for days without breaking. Just doing primitive bend tests on the stuff seems like it is pretty good stuff in tension?
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Ive seen one TMK. It was in PA mag 3 yrs ago I believe.
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I link to this thread every time this topic comes up. http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,5313.0.html
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Hmmm. Makes a guy wonder. I've always wondered about rawhide backing ipe. Anybody tried it?
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There's a few of those on here as well.
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Sweet, thank you for the info! I might just try an unbacked ipe self elb sometime soon. I was about to recommend to some guy on paleoplanet to just use a piece of ipe by itself and not back with linen, but I just wanted to make sure, as I haven't tried ipe unbacked yet myself.
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Tmk, I believe an unbacked anything is possible to make, given the right piece of wood. Will it be a performer? Up to debate for sure. I've made a few unbacked exotics just because folks on another site said it couldn't be done. The one that sticks in my mind is an unbacked bubinga board bow based from a Yuqui design from Bolivia. It's a bow, and it shoots and it ain't broke, but it sucks. Super slow and doggy. Ipe would for sure do better as it is less dense but.... Best of luck.
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WhitefeatherFout, ipé is actually denser than bubinga. 0.7-0.9 versus 0.9-1.1 for ipé.
More info here, in this topic that was started six weeks ago: http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=45155.0
Hm...toomany, you even replied in that topic as well :P
It appears that multiple ipé self bows have been made. They may not be the best shooters, but it works.
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WhitefeatherFout, ipé is actually denser than bubinga. 0.7-0.9 versus 0.9-1.1 for ipé.
More info here, in this topic that was started six weeks ago: http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=45155.0
Hm...toomany, you even replied in that topic as well :P
It appears that multiple ipé self bows have been made. They may not be the best shooters, but it works.
lol, I did didn't I, ::)
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WhitefeatherFout, ipé is actually denser than bubinga. 0.7-0.9 versus 0.9-1.1 for ipé.
More info here, in this topic that was started six weeks ago: http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=45155.0
Hm...toomany, you even replied in that topic as well :P
It appears that multiple ipé self bows have been made. They may not be the best shooters, but it works.
DarkSoul, I stand corrected. I'm basing my info off of boards I've worked with and have in the shop. The Bubinga I have is super dense and the Ipe I have is of lower density. Density numbers are a guideline and do not necessarily take growing conditions into account. Densities can vary greatly within a species given different growing conditions.
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I think ipe excels with being backed, because you can reduce the limb mass by backing it. It doesn't take much ipe to make a bow.