Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: arachnid on November 03, 2014, 01:51:48 pm
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Hi guys.
I bought an oak board thinking it was white oak. After ripping it to 1/8" thick backing strips (and 2 broken backed bows...) I found out its actually RED oak. So, I can't use it for backing and I'm stuck with 8 red oak strips, about 36" in length.
So, can I do something with it or it's fire wood?
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Red oak should make a decent backing for not so dense woods. Not my first choice but I have used it a number of times. I wouldn't use it on your favorite woods but I thiknk it should be fine to experiment with. If the wood seems powdery and brittle I would trash it. If it has kind of a gloss to it and your tools can remove wood smoothly from it I would still use it.
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I tried to back ipe and another red oak board with it. Both broke when I tried to string to bow to low brace.
What woods whould be good to back with it?
I also thought to laminate the strips into recurve take down limds and just make a take down bow.
What say you?
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Red oak should make a decent backing for not so dense woods. Not my first choice but I have used it a number of times.
Yup. A good backing has as much to do with grain as it does specie. I have NEVER used red oak, but I've seen some I would have.
I say stagger the lams, double the thickness to 1/4", and glue up some kids' bow with wild curves.
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Red oak works. Yes white oak is better, but red works just fine.
Tattoo Dave
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I think Springbuck has it, arm the neighborhood. Or try it again with all the lams glued up and a backing of some sort? Not sure if that would work given the length....maybe glued then spliced! Sounds like a lot of work man, I say arm the neighborhood.