My Ipe scrap bow

[NTD]

I posted last week about playing with a scrap piece of Ipe I had.  Here are some pics of my wife drawing it, a braced pic and an unbraced pic.  No that's not a beer belly on my wife, she's carrying a future bowyer 

The bow is 48" draws 21# @ 24".  The wraps are dacron with superglue to hold down some splinters that popped up.  When I played with this I figured it would be such low poundage that it wouldn't need a backing...well I was wrong...either I really suck at making bows or Ipe really does not do well in dry climes without being back.  How do ya do it Justin??

I don't think the bow is going to make it...It keeps popping up splinters....So for fear of my wife bearing the brunt of an exploding bow that was her last draw on it ...oh well next bow







Nate Danforth

[zeNBowyer]

I  see  IPE  sets  a fair  amount

[DanaM]

Put a silk or linen backing on it and it should be just fine

[nathan elliot]

Neat looking bow. More importantly, congratulations to you and your wife!

NAT

[Kent D.]

I can honestly say ive never seen an ipe, unbacked bow. 

By the way, congrats on the bun in the oven.



"zeNBowyer 

I  see  IPE  sets  a fair  amount "

Usually, IPE has very little set.  I can only assume the light weight of this bow, plus the touchness of ipe with out a backing, is what created the set.  I get very little set at all with Ipe.  I love the stuff for that reason.  Plus the density.  You can make thin bows with ipe due to its density.

[nickf]

zen, please think again.

48" long, drawn to 24", taking an inch or so set.

this is ridiciously low compared to other woods.

Nick

[NTD]

Dana- I don't have any silk or linen on hand but I threw some rawhide on it last night.  I'll post pics of the finished bow later.  I'm sure the rawhide will slow it down a bit but it sure should bullet proof it 

Nathan- Thanks for the congrats, it's our first and I'm quite excited. 

Kent D. - Check out this unbacked IPE....My all time favorite bow I've seen posted on PA http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,5313.0.html

NickF- That's what I figured.  Also this piece is only 3/4" wide...I know that most woods done like this would have set quite a bit more.




Nate Danforth

[Justin Snyder]

Nate, I'm glad you like the bow.  I actually think that oily woods are good for dry climate since they don't dry out as easily. Picking a board that will make a selfbow is difficult when you can see the grain. As difficult as it can be to see the grain in Ipe, a selfbow is really difficult. I think you did great considering the NTN length and draw length. You are seriously bending that wood. Justin

[Kent D.]

Kent D. - Check out this unbacked IPE....My all time favorite bow I've seen posted on PA http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,5313.0.html

Excellent looking bow. 

[George Tsoukalas]

Very nice bow and a very special congratulations to you and your wife. Jawge