Laminated bow

[jturner]

I have lots of white ash planks about 3/4 " thikck by 20" wide. I also have black walnut of the same size. I was wondering if any one has tried these two together? If so should I use ash back and belly and walnut core or the other way around?  I ripped some 2" wide / about 20 inches long, planed them down to about 1/4 thick and glued them together ash/walnut/ ash. just as test pieces and it seemed like it would be a good combo for a heavy bow.

                                                             Jake

[Agbowyer]

I have never worked with that combination so this is just an educates guess. The walnut is very similar to hickory so I would use it for the back. it should be stronger in tension than ash.

[stiknstring]

I am hoping others give there opinion here but....I always heard that walnut was not very strong in tension and needed to be backed so I would think that sandwiching it between the two ash laminations would be the best bet.

[Hillbilly]

Or just backing the walnut with a good strip of ash should make a good bow. Walnut is as good or better than ash as a belly wood. Seems like Marc has talked of backing several of the less compression-strong woods with white ash, with good results.

[Ryano]

I'm with hillbilly...........

[jturner]

Thanks guys  I was away from the computer a few days. I have made a few self bows of the ash but they have always had too much string follow and slow cast so I thought that a laminated bow may be better.
                                     jake