Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Flntknp17 on September 11, 2020, 03:15:38 pm
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Easy question for you all (hopefully). I am planning on backing an osage board with a hickory slat. I plan to cut my hickory slats from hickory lumber. I have made a lot of osage bows, and a lot of hickory bows.....but I have not made a hickory backed osage bow for unknown reasons. What is the ideal thickness for the hickory? I plan on making a conservatively designed longbow 66" and 1.75" wide at the fades and ~50@27. All thoughts are appreciated.
Thanks
Matt
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All thoughts are appreciated
I suppose knowing why you want to add a hickory back might make a difference. Are you hoping for some gains?
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I am backing because the osage is a board stave and will require backing. I bought a large osage board last month and sawed it into lumber staves. I’ve done this same thing before with bamboo and osage boards, just haven’t used hickory for it before.
Matt
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I cut hickory backing strips at 3/16" thick. After dressing both surfaces it usually ends up at 1/8" or slightly less. And, you don't need 1.75" for a 66" osage bow. 1 3/8" to 1 5/8" is plenty enough for a 66" long 50@26" osage bow. Add about 4" of Perry reflex at glue up and end up with 1" of reflex to a flat bow after shooting it in.
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Thanks. I use a standard perry reflex of 3” for most all my board bows and it seems to work out prett well. The start out 1.75, but I often do some shaping and sculpting and symmetry adjustments so they end up a little less. I’m making a bow for a compound shooting buddy who’s interested in longbows so I’m just going for durability and stability 😄
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Hickory backed osage makes a great bow and a lot easier to make than boo backed bows. I've made many over the years. I actually prefer hickory as a backing material. Less work and for me more durable.
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Hickory thickness - 3/16ths to a 1/4"
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