Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Red Dwarf on June 15, 2008, 11:07:16 pm

Title: Best bow woods in compression?
Post by: Red Dwarf on June 15, 2008, 11:07:16 pm

I am going to give a backed bow another try , after a couple of spectacular failures with hickory on elm!

What would be the top half a dozen or so bow woods when looking for something that is strong(flexible) in compression to match with a hickory or bamboo backing?

Red Dwarf

Title: Re: Best bow woods in compression?
Post by: bcbull on June 15, 2008, 11:19:14 pm

 my choice is ipe  or osage good luck

Title: Re: Best bow woods in compression?
Post by: Dano on June 15, 2008, 11:25:45 pm

My choice would be osage or ah osage  ;D

Title: Re: Best bow woods in compression?
Post by: radius on June 15, 2008, 11:32:33 pm

i have also had some great success with hickory backed OSAGE ORANGE

in my room i can see...right now...about 7 or 8 hickory backed osage orange bows of different styles...all successes

Title: Re: Best bow woods in compression?
Post by: Ryano on June 15, 2008, 11:52:42 pm

I've made nice hickory and bamboo backed osage, black locust,hhb and maple. You just need to adjust the design of the bow to fit the type of of wood you use.

Title: Re: Best bow woods in compression?
Post by: adb on June 16, 2008, 01:31:22 am

osage, osage, osage... then yew, ipe, or maple. Did I mention osage?

Title: Re: Best bow woods in compression?
Post by: radius on June 16, 2008, 01:39:48 am

yeah, i think you did! ;D ;D

Title: Re: Best bow woods in compression?
Post by: Rich Saffold on June 16, 2008, 01:43:10 am

Ipe,osage, yew, hickory.

Title: Re: Best bow woods in compression?
Post by: radius on June 16, 2008, 01:47:57 am

so far i haven't had great luck with maple...seems to come in underweight all the time, dangit!

Title: Re: Best bow woods in compression?
Post by: Coo-wah-chobee on June 16, 2008, 02:01:02 am

Ipe, snakewood, osage, yew, hickory.....bob

Title: Re: Best bow woods in compression?
Post by: Ryano on June 16, 2008, 10:23:31 am

Hickory's actualy not to good in compression but great in tension.

Title: Re: Best bow woods in compression?
Post by: snedeker on June 16, 2008, 10:27:23 am

Osage, yew, a bunch of the tropical hardwoods (massuranduba, bubinga, etc).   Mesquite.

Black locust is great with hickory backing but you wouldn't say it is strong in compression.

Title: Re: Best bow woods in compression?
Post by: adb on June 16, 2008, 12:03:19 pm

I'd have to agree with Ryan... hickory is a great wood, but far excels at tension than compression. My #1 choice as a backing wood.

Title: Re: Best bow woods in compression?
Post by: JackCrafty on June 16, 2008, 12:21:19 pm

As a general rule, the heavier the wood (per cubic foot) the better the compression strength.  Heaviest woods:

Domestic:
Ironwood (HHB, Desert Ironwood, etc.)
Dogwood (except osier)
Serviceberry
Osage
True Hickory (pignut, mockernut, shagbark)
Oak (live oak, swamp white)
Black Locust

Imports:
Ipe
Bubinga
Bulletwood (Lignumvitae, kaneelhart, etc.)
(many others)

Title: Re: Best bow woods in compression?
Post by: grantmac on June 16, 2008, 02:42:28 pm

I've been using Eastern Red Cedar and it is a joy to work with, but it does require a very careful tiller. Otherwise it's been all Ipe for me.
       Cheers,
               Grant

Title: Re: Best bow woods in compression?
Post by: Red Dwarf on June 18, 2008, 03:35:09 pm

Thanks guys for the help.

Would love to try osage but unfortunately I do not have access to it up here in BC . I do have a little bit of yew; it is not very good quality but may be OK for slats.
Ipe sounds interesting, any special precautions when working with it?

Red Dwarf

Title: Re: Best bow woods in compression?
Post by: Pat B on June 18, 2008, 03:41:29 pm

Red, some folks are highly sensative to the dust of ipe and other tropical woods. Take precautions when using  it.  ;) Pat

Title: Re: Best bow woods in compression?
Post by: Kegan on June 18, 2008, 07:47:39 pm

My father had me look up ipe for decking a few years ago (before I learned it made such great bows). In seven different sites I read that ipe is extremely poisonous to the lungs and should be used with a mask in a ventillated area. Makes a terrific bow though.

Title: Re: Best bow woods in compression?
Post by: bcbull on June 18, 2008, 09:23:51 pm

 i love workin with the ipe makes dome dandy bow  but i wont work it without my dust mask  and a pair of pig skin leather gloves on  get 1 lil sliver and dont get it all out  you ll very quickly figure out what haha man that stuff swees burns hurt s to be honest   be safe !!! :-[