Lamintae

[Runningbear]

Ive made only selfbows so far, I wanted to know if a good bow could made of maple backing,ipe core,and red oak belly?
 

[Pat B]

Maple backed ipe should make a nice bow. If you want to use 3 lams put the red oak in the middle(core). Ipe is very strong in compression so it should be on the compression side; the belly. Maple makes a good backing for lighter woods but If it is a good clear piece if hard maple it should work as a backing.

[Jesse]

What Pat said

[Jude]

I understand ipe wins for the belly, but which is stronger in tension, the oak or the maple, and is either one really strong enough for the ipe?  I think I would go with a hickory or boo backing, and ditch the oak or maple.

[half eye]

I made a prod for an early cross bow ....28" long has an ipe belly and hard maple back....about equal thickness it pulls more than 100# at 15" and has been pulled to 18"....it is a very tough combination in my opinion....if some pics would help be happy to post some.
half eye

[Parnell]

I made a maple backed ipe early on and it is fine - only thing was it was early on in my bowmaking and I made it too narrow - the ipe developed some chrysals.

[adb]

Nothing wrong with maple as a backing. I've used it successfully with osage, walnut, yew, and jatoba. I'd skip the oak all together, and make a maple backed ipe.

[Runningbear]

Thanks! I'll just try the maple and ipe.
Runningbear.