Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Knoll on January 08, 2015, 12:49:37 pm
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A trip to the local hardwood store scored a 6' piece of 8/4 hard maple with straight grain edges.
Have a 1 1/2 x 11/16 piece of IPE that's 6' long that DVS gifted me couple months ago. And a qtr-sawn Osage board ... 1 3/4 x 1 x 6' ... picked up at MoJam last summer. Would like to use the IPE or Osage boards to make a target bow in 35-40# and use other as 45-50# hunting bow ... both at 26" draw.
What are thoughts re using the maple as backing for these bows? Any recommends re dimensions?
Thanks!
Michael
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Maple should be fine as a backer for them. I've used maple for the heavy dense tropical woods with good success, and so have some others on this site as well.
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After getting blackhawks opinion ya don't need mine but i agree with him maple is a great backer
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Thanks, guys.
Seems that common backing thickness is 1/8". Given that one of the bows will be on the light side ... 35-40# ... is it advisable for that backing's thickness to be less than 1/8"?
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I always try and slightly taper my backing. I'll glue the 1/8" on then lightly sand towards the tips.
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Remember you can always use a much thicker Maple backing with Ipe. You can save mass weight that way. The Ipe only needs to deliver in compression and it doesn't take much thickness to do that.
I made one with Maple backing about 5/16 thick.
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My experience with hard maple is that the grain needs to be very straight and clear for a backing. Some broke and some were fine, all from the same board. These were all narrow longbows 1" or just under in width. I have more faith with hickory or boo, than maple but I think it is less crucial with wider flatbows. A lot of guys have made good longbows with maple backings, so it could be that my individual board had issues.