Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: upstatenybowyer on January 29, 2017, 11:17:06 am
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I have literally no experience w/ tri-lams, but I'd like to try them. A friend who has a killer workshop is letting me come over to cut some lams. I'd like to go home with a bunch of backs, cores, and bellies. I know what makes good backs and bellies but could use some input on the core. Thanks ;)
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Maple.
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Maple.
That's what I use. Both all wooden bows and FG.
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Osage, yew, mulberry, maple, hickory, hhb, cherry, walnut, erc, all kinds of stuff.
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what will you use for the back and belly?
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how bout apple?
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My fav is cherry
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I have always used maple also, but I hear cherry is great core wood as well
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Lighter the better IMO.
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Pearl, glad to hear it. I think my first will be 2 lams of erc w/ an ash back. Would there be any advantage to using something different in the middle?
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I like lightweight wood in the middle to keep physical weight of the limb down. Then add a dependable belly and back. My personal feelings? ERC is worthless except to build hope chests. I wouldn't use it in any part of a bow build, not again that is :)
For a backing Id stick with hard maple or hickory. Boo if you got it.
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Thanks PD, duly noted :). The main reason I'm a little obsessed w/erc is that one of my best shooters is a mostly sapwood sinew-backed erc. It's soooo light and shoots soooo smooth. So I've been ichin to make one with all heartwood cause it's so purdy and I thought if I cut clean clear lams and backed it w/something that wouldn't overpower it, a thin ash, it might just work. O:)
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Try it if it intrigues you. I just gave my opinion, it doesnt make it a rule.
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How about black locust?? I just know Alex Wittenaar used it on a very stable hornbow and said it was good.
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Tri lams are wonderful bows and you will learn a lot about woods qualities making them.Even though I don't make them much but have.If made right superior to self bows sometimes really IMHO.I call then kit bows compared to self bows.No malicious intentions meant though.The fella who showed me the saran wrap usage has made a lot of them.Sometimes even with 5 glue lines mostly R/D style and with not too much reflex induced either.He likes a colorful looking type bow.....lol.I bet bubby could shed some light on your subject.He's made a bunch too.
Personally I like a denser core than maple or ERC.With good compression and elastic qualities for a long long life.Not exactly saying maple or erc will break down either.Ironwood!!!That's just me.Most times a laminated bow will get reduced mass weight wise in the limbs for a faster cast speed in my experience.Design makes a big difference.Just my opinion again.Like Pearly not a rule....lol.
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What was that combo that was very good....Bamboo/maple/yew?????
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Never tried yew as a belly lam, but I have heard great things about it.
Personally, I love bamboo, maple, ipe
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Yes I've heard of and seen that too.The ipe bow might get a little narrower I'd say than the yew then because of it's density.Although I've seen a wonderful wider flat bow made out of a laminated ipe too.Getting those thickness/width/and length dimensions down can take some experimenting.
Anyway upstate your cranking out self bows every 2 weeks for sure seems like and now with these laminated bows I imagine you'll crank them out even faster in that work shop....lol.
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Remember, the stiffer (harder, more dense usually) the belly, the thinner the total stack. Thus, so you don't run out of belly to work with,that means make the core lam thinner.
Loon mentioned black locust, which works great, but is heavier than you strictly need. My best luck was with tough, but lighter woods(remember, the middle lam is under very little compression strain, but some shear strain). I like maple, cherry, bamboo flooring, light end white and red oak, maple for sure, and I once bought a thin red elm board off Ebay as a 'throw in" on kind of a package deal of thin pieces. That was great stuff, though a little hard to mill thin and smoothly.
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I like lightweight wood in the middle to keep physical weight of the limb down. Then add a dependable belly and back. My personal feelings? ERC is worthless except to build hope chests. I wouldn't use it in any part of a bow build, not again that is :)
For a backing Id stick with hard maple or hickory. Boo if you got it.
Come on now Pearlie....need me to send some more clean boards?:)