Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: AtomicWrangler on September 22, 2020, 11:29:36 pm
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Hello, first time posting here.
I want to make a board bow since i don't have access to staves and i came across this cheap flooring board on a local online store, bengkirai/bangkirai (Shorea Laevis) 1,5 x 7 x 100 cm, SG is 0.83 according to this website http://www.tropicaltimber.info/specie/balau-shorea-laevis/ (http://www.tropicaltimber.info/specie/balau-shorea-laevis/). Is it too short? Can i make a bow from this wood? and if so what sort of design should i use? If it's too short i could V-splice some ears like an asiatic composite bow and also i will back this bow with either silk or sinew.
P.S. : from the seller's description this piece of board is oven dried with low moisture content, is this going to be a problem? can i just left the board in water for maybe a day or so to give it some moisture?
Thank you. :)
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Yes it makes a good belly wood. Not great wood but it will make a bow.
It isn't too short if you have a bandsaw and drum sander to prepare lams.
Personally I'd just get some ipe :)
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Thank you bownarra for the reply! I'd try Ipe but i don't think Ipe grows in indonesia, theres's Ulin/Borneo ironwood here but that wood is on the endangered list. Bangkirai is a good belly wood so does it means it needs to be laminated to another type of wood or can i get away with just backing it with sinew? I don't have a band saw unfortunately and does the board being oven/kiln dried become a problem later on?
Thanks again.
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i think if you back it with bamboo it will be really awesome. but since its your first bow i would advise against it. heck, i haven't backed a bow yet. never felt the need to since i try to use wood where i don't have too.