Veneer strips for backing?

[Stickhead]

I ran across some 2" wide strips of wood veneer in the local woodcraft store, and I got to wondering.  It comes in rolls much longer than a bow.  They had maple and red oak, and some other less promising woods.

Do you 'spose this would make a decent backing material for, say, an ERC bow?  Or is it too thin and brittle to add any strength?  It's probably got plenty of grain violations, too, I guess.  Maybe just for looks over the top of silk or something.  Hmmm.

Anybody every try it?

[tom sawyer]

It might actually work.  They peel veneer off a log by turning the log while cutting a thin slice, so I think it stands a decent chance of having continuous fibers running the length.  I can't think of how you could check it though, I suppose if you don't see violations on the wide sides you ought to be good.  Being thin it wouldn't hold any induced reflex, but as a protective backing it should work.  Let us know how it goes when you try it.

[michbowguy]

i have done it, an they turned out fine, just size the back with tb2 and size the vaneer.

heck just sizing the bow with tb2 realy helps!
the cherry will look FANTASTIC under a clear poly,or even a nice handrubbed tung oil.

i have some 2 inch for trade right now on the site..
jamie

[Stickhead]

Thanks, guys.  Guess it's worth a try.  Now all I have to do is wait for my ERC to season.  Just harvested some promising staves a few weeks ago.

-Tom

[venisonburger]

how thick is the veneer? considering sawed backings are around 1/8" thick you may need to lay several layers of veneer down if you're looking for a protection factor.
VB

[michbowguy]

it is a thick as 5 sheets of printer paper.
its awesome.

after you size the bow once with the glue, then apply, id be just like birch bark....but stronger.the bieng so thin the glue realy saturates the vaneer.

jamie