Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: BrokenArrow on August 12, 2014, 07:21:50 pm
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I am making hickory backed board bows. Has anyone used these woods for cores? Results?
-Yellow Birch
-Persimmon
-American Hornbeam
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I've never used any of those woods, but your choice for core woods is pretty flexible. The core does not experience tension or compression, so the mechanical properties are not too important. It needs to be at least moderately resistant to shear. In reality, many wood species will function perfectly fine as cores. It's the back and belly that are crucial...
Persimmon and hornbeam are probably a bit too heavy to be optimal. Birch has a desirable medium density, good gluing characteristics and decent shear resistance. From that list, I think the birch would be my choice. Maple is a long time favourite, with good reason, but it is not in your list.
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Yellow birch is fairly similar to maple in my experience so it should make a decent core wood.