Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: upstatenybowyer on December 21, 2016, 08:30:15 am

Title: Silver Maple as backing?
Post by: upstatenybowyer on December 21, 2016, 08:30:15 am
Hi Folks,

This topic came to mind as I'm trying to decide what I want to back and ERC bow with. I know Silver Maple isn't a great bow wood, but how about as a backing? I've read that it fails in compression rather than tension. It's lighter that hard maple and I've got a ton of clear and straight saplings on my property.

Thanks
Title: Re: Silver Maple as backing?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on December 21, 2016, 12:12:15 pm
Never used it, but my gut tells me its junk bow wood all the way around.
Title: Re: Silver Maple as backing?
Post by: PatM on December 21, 2016, 01:16:38 pm
Silver Maple has the same modulus of rupture as ERC. Red Maple on the other hand is substantially stronger. Sure you don't have Red Maple?
Title: Re: Silver Maple as backing?
Post by: bubby on December 21, 2016, 01:20:02 pm
Isn't silver maple the same thing as sycamore maple, if so then no not a backer
Title: Re: Silver Maple as backing?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on December 21, 2016, 01:35:58 pm
Silver maple isn't the same as sycamore, bub. But Id guess the properties are about the same. From what I have read, sugar or rock maple is the only maple a fella wants to mess with in bow building.
Title: Re: Silver Maple as backing?
Post by: PatM on December 21, 2016, 02:20:32 pm
Silver maple isn't the same as sycamore, bub. But Id guess the properties are about the same. From what I have read, sugar or rock maple is the only maple a fella wants to mess with in bow building.

 Ever hear of Vine Maple, Pearlie?   ;)

 You can look through the properties of the various Maples on the wood database.  http://www.wood-database.com/
Title: Re: Silver Maple as backing?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on December 21, 2016, 02:36:55 pm
Sure have! Ooops. Where I come from its hard to put it in the maple family. Its superior to any maple we have around here.
Title: Re: Silver Maple as backing?
Post by: upstatenybowyer on December 21, 2016, 05:57:53 pm
Thanks guys. I'm going with white ash.
Title: Re: Silver Maple as backing?
Post by: bubby on December 21, 2016, 07:54:21 pm
Silver maple isn't the same as sycamore, bub. But Id guess the properties are about the same. From what I have read, sugar or rock maple is the only maple a fella wants to mess with in bow building.




Out here the locals call sycamore silver maple too, but i still think it is just as bad a bow wood either way
Title: Re: Silver Maple as backing?
Post by: PatM on December 21, 2016, 08:22:59 pm
Remember there is American Sycamore and Sycamore Maple (an imported European species). Two completely different and unrelated trees.
Title: Re: Silver Maple as backing?
Post by: Springbuck on December 22, 2016, 01:37:35 pm
Never used it, but my gut tells me its junk bow wood all the way around.

Yes.  I messed around with it once, because I had some from a tree I trimmed.  It acts like cottonwood, basically, and it was very poor in tension.  I wouldn't bother.