Anybody tried a Bamboo Backed Bloodwood???

[Okie]

I picked up an extremely straight grained piece of bloodwood and decided instead of making accent strips with it, I'd try it as a bow. I've never heard of anyone using it as a core wood, but that's the fun of this hobby, isn't it? I got it all glued up and tillered out to 55# @ 24" (shooting for 55-60# @ 29") This bow will be for my elk hunting buddy, if it holds together. I didn't put a whole lot of R/D in it but it is holding all that I did put in it, so far. I've got to head to work tonight so no pictures for now. I'll try to post some tomorrow. Just wanted to know what ya'll thought of bloodwood.

John

[jthompson1995]

I think I saw a tri-lam bow with bloodwood as the core that Gordon made a while back. If you search "bloodwood" in the bows forum you can search through and find it. I forget what the belly wood was.

[Okie]

Thanks, but it is a tri lam and mine is just bamboo backed bloodwood. Just wondering.

[mullet]

 I believe Marc has blown up a few.

[Gordon]

I recently handled a Boo backed bloodwood bow that John Strunk built. It was a beautiful bow.

[Okie]

I believe Marc has blown up a few.

Thanks Eddie, that's reassuring.

Gordon, if it holds together it'll be a nice looker for sure. I'm sure not as nice as John's but I love the looks of bloodwood.

[Aries]

Ya i think ive seen an osage boo blood wood R/D on here before it was pretty awesome. not sure who made it Ty

[saic749]

Bloodwood does great under bamboo. From what i´ve read, it seems to be pretty similar to ipe in performance.
The wood is very hard, oily and it is really good under compression!

[AllanM]

In the UK bowyer Pip Bickerstaffe uses bloodwood as a core wood. I have a single growth ring hickory/bloodwood/greenheart belly english longbow made by him. It's awsome, very fast cast. I have a fairly large collection of bows and this by far the best longbow I have.

[Badger]

    The only successful Bloodwood bows I have had were elb type with not much strain on them. The grain on blood wood can be very squirrley and just blow out. Beautiful wood but more trouble than it is worth if you ask me. I have tried at least a dozen r/d and even straight slightly reflexed bows and they all blew out. I did see a beauty on here that was successful and had me wanting to try another one.. Steve

[Okie]

Thanks guys.

Steve, the grain on this particular board is why I decided to use it as a core. It is the straightest grained bloodwood I have ever seen.

[horseapple]

John, I've built lots of boo backed bloodwood bows, its one of my favorite woods, second to osage when backing.  if the wood has been kiln dried it will most likely always hold all of its reflex, make sure and use urac for the glue.

JD

[Gordon]

A friend of mine has one of JD's boo backed bloodwood bows and it is impressive.

[Okie]

Thanks JD. Tommy just told me you had built several. I've got it almost finished and she is bending real nice. I think it'll make a bow. I'll be posting pics soon. I've been working nights this week and I'm all screwed up on my time.

Gordon, all of JD's bows are impressive.

[Gordon]

Gordon, all of JD's bows are impressive.

I've carefully examined every inch of that bow and I don't doubt what you say for a moment. It's top-notch work and very inspiring.