Laburnum

[Radon]

Hej all,

I cut down a large branch of laburnum tis autum. After haven split it, I managed to get four billets out.
The heartwood is very hard and seems to be very similar to osage.

Now my questions:

Anybody here who has already built a bow from laburnum?
What about the sapwood (it would sure look great but I'm not sure if it is suitable)?
What dimensions would you recommend (more wide or narrow)?
Backing? I want to back one of the bows with bamboo. The heartwood seems to be pretty compression resistant. Any opinions on that?

Thanks already

Radon

[AndrewS]

Hi Radon, I have seen bows of laburnum build from Jürgen Junkmanns. He is a german bowyer. May be you can contact him?

[Keenan]

 Radon,
 Laburnum is an excellent bow wood and extremely beautiful. I would be interested in obtaining more if you have any to trade. Be carefull as the dust is fairly toxic and can make you very sick.
  The sapwood is beautiful and can be used as accent but is slightly weak in tension. It is a very strong wood and you will find that you will go fairly thin the reach a good bending weight. I have a laburnum flat bow that is about 1 5/8" wide mid limb and 1/2 thick. And 5/16" at the tips and 3/8" thick. If my memory is right I think that one is 65" long and 61lbs. at 28"
  It works well with sinew but can be self bow if carefull on chasing the ring. I'll try to find some pics for you.   Keenan

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[sumpitan]

Laburnum was the preferred longbow wood of 19th century Swiss bowyers, despite them living close to the best yew country. Laburnum was the bow wood of ancient Gauls, and was in all likelyhood widely used in Europe in later historic times. British pro bowyer Chris Boyton has built superb laburnum bows and rates the wood very highly. One of the most elastic timbers around and extremely pretty. Still hunting for the first bow-quality labbie stick myself

Tuukka

[Radon]

Hi,

thanks a lot for your answers. That all sounds very promising.
Keenan: Those are great pics. Beautiful bow. Let me think a bit about your offer.

I'll keep you updated.

Radon

[Bowbound]

I have never worked laburnum, want too! But form what i have heard most laburnum is just as good as all but the best yew staves. It should make a very nice bow.

[Stew]

Hi guys,

Bumping an old thread here but couldn't see the point in starting a new one for this q. 

What do you do with Laburnum sapwood? Should it be treated the same as Yew?

Cheers,

Stew.

[Snake-Jo]

@Stew: The sapwood is a nice accent to the realy choco-brown inner wood. The colour of the sapwood is (after exposing some time to sunlight) a greyish light brown. Do not use ist, it is weak in tension.
And do not cut the back ring, avoid notches. 

[Radon]

Hi,

the laburnum bow is in progress.
I removed all the sapwood.
Unfortunatels there is one spot with a not very good looking knot and nearby a slight violation of the first ring. I'm giong to patch that area with some sort of backing. I thing rawhide or canvas should do.

I'll keep you updated

Radon

[Stew]

@Stew: The sapwood is a nice accent to the realy choco-brown inner wood. The colour of the sapwood is (after exposing some time to sunlight) a greyish light brown. Do not use ist, it is weak in tension.
And do not cut the back ring, avoid notches. 

That's a real shame. The colour contrast would have been nice to keep but performance comes first.

[DCM]

Same as "arrowwood," no?  Usually a bush?  I'd look for "suckers" on the stump in the coming couple of years for arrow shafting.

[Pat B]

David, I believe you are thinking about viburnum and not laburnam. The labs and vibs are different!

[DCM]

LOL!  You are right Pat.  Thanks.

[Pat B]

We'll forgive you this time but don't let it happen again!        

[bootboy]

gorgeous bow mate!
 How did you do the handle on the back? Can we get some photos of the back side of the handle