woods compresion and tention question

[PatM]

The maple bats prone to shattering are the lower density bats which are made from either Red or Silver Maple. Not quite the same concept as a  rock Maple back on a bow.

[phoenix]

I'm also new to all of this, and I was wondering whether cherry or purpleheart were any good in compression.

[adb]

Cherry is a decent belly wood, but it chrysalles easily. You have to tiller it perfectly, but if you do, it makes an excellent bow. Best to keep it wider and flat. I usually back it, but not with an over powering material (like bamboo). Maple works good. 

Purpleheart? Don't know, but I use it a lot as a mid-lam in tri-lam ELBs. It works excellent in that application.

[Bevan R.]

My personal favorite is purpleheart. I have a purpleheart back with hickory I have shot for years.

[adb]

My personal favorite is purpleheart. I have a purpleheart back with hickory I have shot for years.

Could you post some pictures of that bow?

[Bevan R.]

Could you post some pictures of that bow?

This is purpleheart (from a board) backed with hickory that I then covered with snake skin. 65" ntn, pulling in the mid 40's at 27"

[Bevan R.]

This is my 1st purpleheart. 67" ntn pulling 50# @ 28. I have retired it after over 5 year service in the SCA. I can't guess how many thousands of arrows this has shot.

For me, purpleheart is easer & cheeper to get than osage. Go figure.

[Hrothgar]

Beautiful bows Bevan.