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Author Topic: Maple-backed IPE and Osage?  (Read 2871 times)

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Offline Knoll

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Maple-backed IPE and Osage?
« on: January 08, 2015, 12:49:37 pm »
A trip to the local hardwood store scored a 6' piece of 8/4 hard maple with straight grain edges. 

Have a 1 1/2 x 11/16 piece of IPE that's 6' long that DVS gifted me couple months ago.  And a qtr-sawn Osage board ... 1 3/4 x 1 x 6' ... picked up at MoJam last summer.  Would like to use the IPE or Osage boards to make a target bow in 35-40# and use other as 45-50# hunting bow ... both at 26" draw.

What are thoughts re using the maple as backing for these bows?  Any recommends re dimensions?

Thanks!
Michael
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... alone in distant woods or fields, in unpretending sproutlands or pastures tracked by rabbits, even in a bleak and, to most, cheerless day .... .  I suppose that this value, in my case, is equivalent to what others get by churchgoing & prayer.  Hank Thoreau, 1857

blackhawk

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Re: Maple-backed IPE and Osage?
« Reply #1 on: January 08, 2015, 12:56:26 pm »
Maple should be fine as a backer for them. I've used maple for the heavy dense tropical woods with good success, and so have some others on this site as well.
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Offline bubby

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Re: Maple-backed IPE and Osage?
« Reply #2 on: January 08, 2015, 04:59:30 pm »
After getting blackhawks opinion ya don't need mine but i agree with him maple is a great backer
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Offline Knoll

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Re: Maple-backed IPE and Osage?
« Reply #3 on: January 08, 2015, 05:53:54 pm »
Thanks, guys.

Seems that common backing thickness is 1/8".  Given that one of the bows will be on the light side ... 35-40# ... is it advisable for that backing's thickness to be less than 1/8"?
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... alone in distant woods or fields, in unpretending sproutlands or pastures tracked by rabbits, even in a bleak and, to most, cheerless day .... .  I suppose that this value, in my case, is equivalent to what others get by churchgoing & prayer.  Hank Thoreau, 1857

Offline Blaflair2

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Re: Maple-backed IPE and Osage?
« Reply #4 on: January 08, 2015, 05:55:42 pm »
I always try and slightly taper my backing. I'll glue the 1/8" on then lightly sand towards the tips.
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Offline PatM

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Re: Maple-backed IPE and Osage?
« Reply #5 on: January 08, 2015, 06:42:42 pm »
Remember you can always use a much thicker Maple backing with Ipe. You can save mass weight that way. The Ipe only needs to deliver in compression and it doesn't take much thickness to do that.
 I made one with Maple backing about 5/16 thick.
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Offline Hamish

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Re: Maple-backed IPE and Osage?
« Reply #6 on: January 09, 2015, 01:59:32 am »
My experience with hard  maple is that the grain needs to be very straight and clear for a backing. Some broke and some were fine, all from the same board. These were all narrow longbows 1" or just under in width. I have more faith with hickory or boo, than maple but I think it is less crucial with wider flatbows.  A lot of guys have made good longbows with maple backings, so it could be that my individual board had issues.
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