Spalted Maple for backing??

[Cameroo]

Hey guys.  I've got this gnarly looking piece of spalted maple  that I'm dying to use for something.  I was wondering what you guys think of the idea of using it for a backing on a maple bow?  Should I try it, or will it just splinter or crack?  I suppose I could use it for some riser sections if nothing else.  What do you guys think? Have any of you tried this (or any other spalted wood for a backing)?

I plan on using a nearly perfectly quarter sawn maple board for the bow, which shouldn't need a backing at all.  I just think this would look really neat, if it can handle the tension.

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[NTD]

I doubt that it would work.  Even though the core you are using doesn't need a backing whatever you put on the back will be required to work.  I think it will be better served as riser material and nock overlays etc.  It is a pretty piece of wood and it would look nice on the back of a bow:-)

[Alpinbogen]

Spalting is a decay feature, so I wouldn't use it as a backing.  It would probably be fine for tip overlays.

[adb]

Hey, Cam. No, it won't work. Spalting is actually a fungal decay I believe. The grain is also crazy, but it would make nice accent pieces.

[Cameroo]

That's what I thought.  It sure would look nice though.  I'll have to use it for something.

[Cameroo]

Not that I want to beat a dead horse, but what if I "backed the backing" with something transparent, like fiberglass?  Or would white silk be transparent after it goes on?

[Pat B]

A thin vaneer of the spalted maple can be used under clear glass but that is for another website than this.
  I would not use spalted anything in a wood bow except for a handle riser or tip overlays. It is basically rotten wood and has lost it's integrity and only the beauty of the spalting remains.

[JW_Halverson]

If you choose to use the "f"-word stuff, you can make a superior looking bow, but like Pat says, there are other sites that can holp you with that.  Personally, I'd use it to make a piece of furniture or a fine cigar humidor.  I can imagine accenting with purpleheart and other colorful woods to bring out the grain of that fine maple. 

But as a bow, I gotta say don't do it.  And that is unusual for me because I'm known for telling people to make a bow outa whetever you got and if it blows make another outa something else. 

[dwardo]

Lovely bit of wood that, i would get it treated/stablised? and use it for ptretty stuff like overlays, tool handles and general shiney stuff