Hickory Backed Hickory?

[roofus]

Would backing a Hickory bow with Hickory be the same as a self bow?
I've seen it a few times and I am intrigued.

[JackCrafty]

Hmmmmm...is a taco wrapped with two tortillas still a taco?   Yep, but it's overkill.   JMHO.

[son of massey]

  my impression of a selfbow is that it is a single piece of wood, so no laminations or backings.   a backing of the same kind of wood as you start with is still a backing, so i wouldnt call it a selfbow.   it may also not be overkill-a hickory board with poor grain could be made into a durable bow with a hickory backing of good grain.   a true seflbow is likely to be easier and quicker to make. SOM

[JackCrafty]

I guess if you glue the backing on with a bit of reflex (or some other fancy bowyer's trick), it wouldn't perform like a selfbow....but this is a fun question.  I know that backing is backing and laminations are laminations, but the end result is very similar to (if not exactly like) a self bow.

I think you should try it if it interests you....and I don't think too many self-bow people would get upset with the idea of you shooting alongside of them....

[roofus]

Well, I have'nt decided what to use for my hunting bow yet but, like I said this intrigues me.
I was thinking of Hickory with a Hickory back glued up and clamped down to build in reflex and then backing the backing with a snake skin.
That may be a bit much for my first true hunting bow but, maybe someday.

[Badger]

Hickory backed hickory is popular amoungst flight shooters, you can buy an inexpensive hickory board and simply back it with straight grained hickory, creating an r/d design, or reflexed or recurve or whatever. You take advantage of the Perry reflex doing this. Steve

[sailordad]

some on here will tell ya that hickory is a poor belly wood.

ive used it,it works fine.lots of choices,i think thats why we all get addicted cause we keep wanting to try another wood/style/combo etc.
i think my next lam is going to be a boo/osage or hick/osage,never done hick/hick just boo/hick
good luck,


                                                                 peace,
                                                                      tim

[Badbill]

Well, my understanding of it is that its not just the 2 pieces of wood but the incredibly strong glue joint in there that also adds to the make up of that bow.

[Scowler]

No.  A self bow is a bow made from a single piece of wood/material.  Any bow that is backed would be considered a composite bow.

[Pat B]

I think Badbill is correct about the glue line. That alone adds a few pounds because the 2 parts are working against each other at the glue line. Hickory backed hickory makes a good combo but humidity can be a problem. Hickory backed osage makes an excellent combo and goes together simply. Pat

[Badger]

Hickory backed osage is my favorite combo. Steve

[Far East Archer]

As we are already on the topic.....

What do you think, if a backing of less tension strong wood is placed as backing on hickory than hickory itself?
Say ash wood or maple?

Wouldn't this indeed be a better combination?
I would think hickory overpowers itself, so a lesser tension wood on the back would equal out with its compression strength....

[El Destructo]

Nope laminated is still Laminated....but unless you were really scared of some serious Flaw in the Hickory....or it is a Board with some runoff....I don't see the need in backing it.........JMO

[Dean Marlow]

Speaking of selfbows. Would a bow made from a stave backed with sinew be considered a selfbow? Fran

[Jesse]

uh oh this could get ugly Im just gonna watch