Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: jeduffey on April 01, 2008, 01:48:16 am

Title: Ebony limbs, who's tried it? (Paging Tim Baker?)
Post by: jeduffey on April 01, 2008, 01:48:16 am

I'm poking around with the idea of ebony as part of a limb lamination for a bow intended to be a gift. Has anyone tried out this wood, for some thing other than accents?

Title: Re: Ebony limbs, who's tried it?
Post by: Marc St Louis on April 01, 2008, 10:52:48 am

I've never seen anyone use it. It is a very dense wood and also hard to find big enough pieces to use for bows.

Title: Re: Ebony limbs, who's tried it?
Post by: snedeker on April 01, 2008, 11:36:22 am

I would think that if you got an 1/8 inch strip, it would work if you put it between high tension backing like hickory or bamboo and use a compression strong wood as belly lam. Maybe ipe.   

Dave

Title: Re: Ebony limbs, who's tried it?
Post by: jeduffey on April 01, 2008, 06:12:29 pm

I was really thinking of using it on the outside, back and belly of the limbs - because its black. I looked through the Tim Baker woods list, but didn't see it listed. I'm sure he has tried it, but I haven't seen any info on it. I'm more concerned with it being brittle or fretting like purpleheart. I have to see what my local supplier has available.

Title: Re: Ebony limbs, who's tried it?
Post by: snedeker on April 01, 2008, 06:37:14 pm

Brittle, yes.   No way on the back.   Pretty dodgey on the belly too I would think.

Title: Re: Ebony limbs, who's tried it?
Post by: Rich Saffold on April 02, 2008, 12:36:27 am

I agree with what Dave just said, it's pretty on overlays, grips, or on  violins, but not on bow limbs..To bad it would be cool looiking.

Rich

Title: Re: Ebony limbs, who's tried it?
Post by: jeduffey on April 02, 2008, 04:16:28 pm

This thread sure makes me wish I had access to a digital copy of Tim Baker's notebooks about every bow he's ever built. Anyone have an email address for him?

Title: Re: Ebony limbs, who's tried it? (Paging Tim Baker?)
Post by: Rich Saffold on April 02, 2008, 04:29:30 pm

Tim6609@aol.com