Probably a Bad Idea...?

[Del the cat]

I was waiting for somone to visit to collect a bow and I didn't want to start on anything serious as I have some new flooring to lay at the weekend (I'd done pretty well stalling the job for 3 years )
Then I saw this stave of cherry that I'd cut from a near dead standing tree years ago, there is some bug damage on the sapwood side.
I thought it was just right for a short experimental Molly... I've been putting off making a Molly for about 20 years .
Anyhow, 'cos of the bug damage I'm having the central pith running down the back of the bow
This could well explode on me, as I'm planning to push it hard, to see how far it will chuck an arrow. I'm going for 40 maybe 50# at 24"
Maybe I'll back it with rawhide, Hickory, Hazel or Ash... dunno
What does the team think?
Should I video the tillering in slo-mo for when it goes bang?
On the plus side the stave was roughed out square, so it's a bit of a cookie cutter job and the wood cuts beautifully so it's a quick fun have-a-go bow.
Any thoughts, ideas?
Del

[Badger]

  Cherry is one of the fastest woods I have worked with. I would back it and try not to get any chrysals. Have you thought about making an elb with it? Tim Baker and I did some histeris tests years ago and cherry was right at the top in this category.

[Del the cat]

Cheers,
It's a tad short for an ELB and I just fancied something different.
I've certainly noticed how light it is, V pretty wood too.
We have a big cherry in the garden that has grown up with two big fat trunks... one of them will be coming down in the Autumn/Winter and I have my eye on the wood.
Del

[bubby]

Bad idea, possibly, that doesn't meant you shouldn't do it

[JonW]

Go for it. It will either work or it won't Better than laying flooring I think

[wizardgoat]

What kind of cherry? I have a stave of fruiting cherry that I  roughed out but production was halted. I planned to do a cherry bark backed cherry flat bow, but I had heard from many people the wood very brittle. Certainly feels light. Maybe I should give her a go again

[bowmo]

Cherry is one of those woods that you know is hard to get a bow out of but you also hear that if you do they shoot amazing...

[Del the cat]

Sounds like a good challenge..
I might even back it with Hazel, that should look stunning (until it explodes )
I've managed to get Mrs Cat to go for click together laminate flooring... it's in an area that gets hard wear, tea spillage, footfall from the garden and cat puke. That stuff goes down real quick, is cheap to replace and won't show the dirt like the pale carpet we had down... (now who's idea was a pale carpet???   )
Del
PS. Do you like the litte filing cabinets under the bench? The boss at work was throwing them away and asked if I wanted them for the workshop... guess what I've put in'em?
Files and rasps

[DC]

All individually wrapped so they don't bang together, of course.

[Del the cat]

All individually wrapped so they don't bang together, of course.

Of course
Del

[Chief RID]

I'll be watching this one. It has about the same profile as the sassafras I am "working" on. I'm stuck so maybe you will give me a push.

[sleek]

A literal file cabinet.  I love it! Now if I coukd only witness a fork lift, lift a pallet of forks, my life will be complete.

[sleek]

Oh yeah, something significant, put a line of sinew down the pith then rawhide it. Keep the belly flat.

[MWirwicki]

I made a successful bow out of Black Cherry.  In fact, it was my first successful bow over 20 years ago.  It eventually crysalled on the belly side, nevertheless it is retired.  It was a pyramid style. 

I do however, like the slo-mo video coverage idea!  It would be good for the entertainment value, if nothing else Del.   

[Del the cat]

I found a lath of Yew sapwood which I'd sawed off a stave that had real thick sapwood, it still has the bark on . I'm using that to back it.
I'm hoping that the Yew& Cherry will be a good match. I was thinking maybe Hickory would overpower the Cherry.
Anyhow the Yew sapwood wasn't long enough for a longbow.
Del