Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Cameroo on October 17, 2010, 01:47:42 am
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Hey guys. I've got this gnarly looking piece of spalted maple :o that I'm dying to use for something. I was wondering what you guys think of the idea of using it for a backing on a maple bow? Should I try it, or will it just splinter or crack? I suppose I could use it for some riser sections if nothing else. What do you guys think? Have any of you tried this (or any other spalted wood for a backing)?
I plan on using a nearly perfectly quarter sawn maple board for the bow, which shouldn't need a backing at all. I just think this would look really neat, if it can handle the tension.
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I doubt that it would work. Even though the core you are using doesn't need a backing whatever you put on the back will be required to work. I think it will be better served as riser material and nock overlays etc. It is a pretty piece of wood and it would look nice on the back of a bow:-)
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Spalting is a decay feature, so I wouldn't use it as a backing. It would probably be fine for tip overlays.
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Hey, Cam. No, it won't work. Spalting is actually a fungal decay I believe. The grain is also crazy, but it would make nice accent pieces.
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That's what I thought. It sure would look nice though. I'll have to use it for something.
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Not that I want to beat a dead horse, but what if I "backed the backing" with something transparent, like fiberglass? Or would white silk be transparent after it goes on?
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A thin vaneer of the spalted maple can be used under clear glass but that is for another website than this.
I would not use spalted anything in a wood bow except for a handle riser or tip overlays. It is basically rotten wood and has lost it's integrity and only the beauty of the spalting remains.
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If you choose to use the "f"-word stuff, you can make a superior looking bow, but like Pat says, there are other sites that can holp you with that. Personally, I'd use it to make a piece of furniture or a fine cigar humidor. I can imagine accenting with purpleheart and other colorful woods to bring out the grain of that fine maple.
But as a bow, I gotta say don't do it. And that is unusual for me because I'm known for telling people to make a bow outa whetever you got and if it blows make another outa something else.
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Lovely bit of wood that, i would get it treated/stablised? and use it for ptretty stuff like overlays, tool handles and general shiney stuff :)