Author Topic: ? about maple backing  (Read 1977 times)

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MAK

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? about maple backing
« on: June 14, 2009, 01:56:36 pm »
How good is quatersawn hard maple backing?

Should it be thicker than 1/8"?

Offline El Destructo

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Re: ? about maple backing
« Reply #1 on: June 14, 2009, 05:28:16 pm »
                    Excellent for Backing Material ..... And 1/8 to 3/16 is plenty thick enough for most Bow Backings
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Offline adb

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Re: ? about maple backing
« Reply #2 on: June 15, 2009, 07:27:58 pm »
As long as the grain runs horizontally, maple is awesome backing material. Actually, it's become my favourite. I've used it with osage, walnut, maple, jatoba, yew, and cherry. I was especially pleased with the maple backed cherry... it made an awesome flatbow. I do leave my backing strips 3/16" with maple, instead of the usual 1/8" with boo or hickory.

Offline Craig/Fl

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Re: ? about maple backing
« Reply #3 on: June 15, 2009, 08:07:07 pm »
Where's a fella find maple backing, all I've ever used is hickory and bamboo, sounds kinda interesting.
Craig

Offline NTProf

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Re: ? about maple backing
« Reply #4 on: June 15, 2009, 08:51:14 pm »
Mike, at Pine Hollow Longbows, sells maple backing strips, if you are not able to cut your own.

Offline adb

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Re: ? about maple backing
« Reply #5 on: June 16, 2009, 01:09:00 am »
I cut my own.

Offline elk country rp

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Re: ? about maple backing
« Reply #6 on: June 16, 2009, 11:04:24 pm »
8/4 boards aren't too hard to find with good grain. i buy flat sawn 8/4 & rip it down to quarter sawn strips. i run the strips over my upside down belt sander & clean them up a little with a palm sander. i've found the overall lumber quality much better in bigger dimensions. sometimes i even get a board nice enough to get a section with a chaseable ring for a selfbow.

Rob

Offline adb

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Re: ? about maple backing
« Reply #7 on: June 17, 2009, 01:00:29 am »
I do mine exactly the same. Plain sawn 8/4 boards with straight grain, rip 'em on edge, and you have a backing with straight longitudinal grain.