Looking for some advice

[ajooter]

This is a piece of mystery wood either oak or maple I think...not sure but leaning towards oak.  One limb is reflexed while the other has some hingy  looking deflex.  I was going to heat the deflex out of the other limb and possibly heat treat the reflexed limb as well.  Once I had them close I was going to steam in some short statics and sinew back the bow. I have chased both limbs down to the same growth ring. Question is...if the one limb is already reflexed should I bother heat treating it? Thank you for your time in advance.

Aaron

[huisme]

Put the reflex in to match and heat treat the whole limb, then heat treat the already reflexed limb. They should come out pretty darn close

[ajooter]

Sounds good thanks....this will be my first sinewed bow, nothing heavy probably one for the gf.

[bubby]

There is a BIG difference between oak and maple got any pics of the grain

[DarkSoul]

It doesn't look like maple to me. But I'm also not sure it's oak. The wood species is very important for the correct design. It is not a good idea to sinew back a mystery wood. What is your motivation to go for a sinew backing?

[Del the cat]

It doesn't look like maple to me. But I'm also not sure it's oak. The wood species is very important for the correct design. It is not a good idea to sinew back a mystery wood. What is your motivation to go for a sinew backing?

Maybe Ash?
Del

[ajooter]

I just want to try a sinew backed bow.  I have some hickory that is seasoning.  I will get a better picture of the grain for posting.

[ajooter]

Here's a couple better shots.  It is looking more like ash I suppose.

[blackhawk]

All I can say is its ring porous wood...so that rules out it being maple. That could be lots of things. I wouldn't sinew back it not knowing what it is.

[ajooter]

I'll hold off on the sinew then...thanks guys

[DarkSoul]

Looks like ash to me. A poor candidate for a sinew backing. Looking at those pictures, you don't need a backing at all. The grain looks straight, and the back appears to be in one ring. As long as the bow is long enough, you'll have plenty of surface area to make a selfbow.

[bushboy]

Ya maybe ash or hickory hard to tell, how dose it smell? A bit pungent it's. Hickory,if it smells nice prob ash.