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Author Topic: Backing thickness  (Read 1972 times)

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Offline Academonicon

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Backing thickness
« on: May 03, 2016, 09:47:41 am »
I've got a maple backing on this bow I'm working on, and it's about 1/8" thick, but I'm going to have to take that down a little bit due to clamp-impressions from when I glued it down.  How thick/thin does a wood backing need to be?  Does it matter?  Is a thinner backing more prone to break because it's weaker, or less prone because it's more flexible?

Thanks folks!
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: Backing thickness
« Reply #1 on: May 03, 2016, 11:12:43 am »
I cant tell you how thin you can go, you just never know. I like to start around .187 and work it down to .125. I see no good reason why yours wont be fine if the grain and health of the backer is perfect, as it should be.
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Offline TimBo

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Re: Backing thickness
« Reply #2 on: May 03, 2016, 11:23:24 am »
How bad are the dents?  Maybe you could steam them out with a wet rag and an iron.  That has worked for me on small/shallow dents. 
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Backing thickness
« Reply #3 on: May 03, 2016, 12:16:54 pm »
I would try what TimBo suggested first. I've never worked with maple but with hickory backed bows I've reduced the backing to just over 1/16" with good results.
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mikekeswick

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Re: Backing thickness
« Reply #4 on: May 03, 2016, 02:10:13 pm »
Steam them out!
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Offline Badger

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Re: Backing thickness
« Reply #5 on: May 03, 2016, 02:17:59 pm »
  You can steam them out but I would be worried that they broke some fibers. I would go with your plan and sand them out.
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Offline Dances with squirrels

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Re: Backing thickness
« Reply #6 on: May 04, 2016, 05:50:11 am »
Like Pat, I've used hickory less than 1/16" thick... some of them I've reduced after they were glued on.
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Straight wood may make a better bow, but crooked wood makes a better bowyer
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