Author Topic: Ipe  (Read 449 times)

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Offline Mad Max

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Ipe
« on: June 22, 2025, 02:55:10 pm »
I have Blonde Ipe

Dark verses Blonde  ??

I would rather fail trying to do something above my means, Than to succeed at something beneath my means.

Offline Hamish

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Re: Ipe
« Reply #1 on: June 22, 2025, 08:30:03 pm »
How blonde is blonde(maple blonde, or light walnut)?
All the ipe I've ever seen has been dark brown. Apparently, the tree has sapwood, yellow/ greenish, grey, though I've never seen any mixed in with heartwood boards. Ipe is used mainly as decking and flooring, due to its hardness, and durability. A sapwood board in the mix would stand out badly, when laid out and probably wouldn't have the same resistance to rot, so I guess that's why you don't normally see it in a pack of Ipe at the timber merchants

I reckon sapwood would still make a pretty good bow though, its still dense as all heck.

Offline Mad Max

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Re: Ipe
« Reply #2 on: June 22, 2025, 10:44:55 pm »
I would rather fail trying to do something above my means, Than to succeed at something beneath my means.

Offline Hamish

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Re: Ipe
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2025, 12:02:24 am »
Its light for ipe, but it doesn't look like sapwood to me. I reckon it will be good.

Offline simk

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Re: Ipe
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2025, 08:30:24 am »
I was not very lucky with blond Ipe. I had more than one bow chrysaling away. I later discussed the topic with a more experienced bowyer telling me that it varies a lot. Blonde ipe generally is not so great, only the heavier boards maybe still ok. so you can be lucky or not. I would not stress the bow too much maybe. I personally will use my more pale boards for fencing now.   
density in general seems a good criteria for ipe, it goes along with quality (and also with color with the dark type).
I lately laminated a few warbows from different boards of dark ipe and noticed massive differences between the boards. the darker and heavier board produced a lot more drawweight at the same dimensions.
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Offline Mad Max

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Re: Ipe
« Reply #5 on: June 23, 2025, 08:54:03 am »
It's defiantly heavy and killed a new bandsaw blade in about 8" of trying to cut lams.
I would rather fail trying to do something above my means, Than to succeed at something beneath my means.

Offline Hamish

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Re: Ipe
« Reply #6 on: June 23, 2025, 09:28:30 pm »
Bandsaw blades getting blunt. Yep, I remember doing that. A regular high carbon steel blade is no good for dense tropicals. You need a bi metal/high speed steel, or even a TCT saw blade if you have a large enough bandsaw.

Offline Pappy

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Re: Ipe
« Reply #7 on: Today at 09:51:10 am »
Never worked with Ipe much but I know from the Classic when the guys are cutting tip over lays from it that it will toast a blade very quick, I try and get them to use the saw I use to cut out my knife blades. :) That stuff is tough for sure.  :)
 Pappy
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Offline Mad Max

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Re: Ipe
« Reply #8 on: Today at 06:22:01 pm »
I got the board (1" x 4" x 9 foot) at the classic 4 years or so ago. I cut it in 3 sections to get it back home, it was rounded over on the 4 corners for decking.
I don't know how to post pictures from imgur any more, just the link.  >:(

Hopefully it will work fine.
https://imgur.com/1W5RwiV

All this also, boards on the left
https://imgur.com/Lsv6IUD
I would rather fail trying to do something above my means, Than to succeed at something beneath my means.