Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: upstatenybowyer on January 22, 2019, 06:21:34 pm

Title: Wenge as a belly lam?
Post by: upstatenybowyer on January 22, 2019, 06:21:34 pm

Yes? No? Experiences? Suggestions? Cautions? Allergic reactions? (I'm asking the former cause I had a major reaction to Lacewood  :NN)

All thoughts are welcome.  :)

Title: Re: Wenge as a belly lam?
Post by: PatM on January 22, 2019, 06:34:16 pm

There was a Wenge bow posted on here recently. Also an article back in the day in the mag called "The Wonderful World of Wenge".

Title: Re: Wenge as a belly lam?
Post by: Badger on January 22, 2019, 06:35:31 pm

  I know there have been some successful bows made using wenge but I think it is very difficult and the majority I have done myself and heard of blew up during the build. Not a very elastic wood.

Title: Re: Wenge as a belly lam?
Post by: leonwood on January 23, 2019, 04:35:09 am

What Steve said. It splinters really easily and will probably explode before you get any chrysals. Can be done but tiller has to be spot on. May be a good idea to back it with ash or maple instead of bamboo. (I used boo and it exploded on me, was one of the first laminated bows I made so my tiller skills where pretty awfull ;D)

Title: Re: Wenge as a belly lam?
Post by: dylanholderman on January 23, 2019, 04:43:17 am

I’ll comment on the allergies.
I haven’t worked with it myself but one of my friends is highly allergic to it, if you reacted to some other woods proceeded with caution.

Title: Re: Wenge as a belly lam?
Post by: upstatenybowyer on January 23, 2019, 05:20:47 am

Okay guys, thanks. I picked up a 2x2x36" piece that I was able to get two billets out of. It had very straight grain and was on sale so I thought, "why not?"

I'm going to use it as the belly on a tri-lam, so I'm hoping it'll be thin enough to make the stress on it minimal. I'll give it a whirl and report back.

Thanks again.  :)

Title: Re: Wenge as a belly lam?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on January 23, 2019, 06:14:55 am

Id save it for tips and grips.

Title: Re: Wenge as a belly lam?
Post by: paulsemp on January 23, 2019, 06:30:54 am

I've made one or two. If I remember right they turned out okay. For the price  not worth it in my opinion. if I wanted to make a backed board bow  I'd reach for a piece of white oak or maple or anything else before I grabbed a piece of wenge now