What would u do with this ERC?

[upstatenybowyer]

Fellow bow making enthusiasts...

I finally got my hands on a dream stave of ERC. It's around 65" long, plenty of heartwood, and pretty clear. I definitely want to back it with sinew and was thinking of a static with as dramatic curves as I can manage. However, I'm open to suggestions.

I made a working sinew-backed recurve from ERC this summer, but there was much more sapwood than heartwood. It steam bent easily, but the wood was thin. The bow is still going strong and light as a feather, but I want to make this new one even better.

What would you do with this stave? Any and all ideas are most welcome!

[osage outlaw]

I've never worked ERC before.  I've got a similar stave as yours.  I plan on taking it down to heartwood and sinew backing it.  I don't know if that's a good idea or not.  I guess I'll find out eventually.

[---GUTSHOT--->]

I've seen a few that had a hickory laminate backing

[PatM]

I would test bend a scrap piece first just to see exactly how dramatic a bend could be obtained.

[mullet]

With all of those knots and pin knots I'd back it with sinew. I would make it bending in the handle and starting at 1 3/4 - 2" out of the fades, and 72" long.

[upstatenybowyer]

Thanks folks. Pat- the test bend is a smart idea, think I'll do it. Mullet- I'll definitely go wide, Tim Baker suggests this as well. Outlaw- all heartwood is what I was thinking, best of luck to you with yours. Gutshot- I do have some hickory I could use to back it. Marc St. Louis made a beauty ERC with a maple back if I'm not mistaken. I've lots of sugar maple that we tap around February. 

[Eric Krewson]

Hickory backed ERC;



Marc said he had hickory backings fail on him so he switched to maple backing for ERC.

[Marc St Louis]

I like sinew for certain applications but if the back is clean on that stave I would maybe thin the sapwood a bit and just make an ALB with D section limbs

[FilipT]

Can ERC be unbacked, just sapwood thinned like on the yew bows?

[upstatenybowyer]

Duly noted Marc. If I went that route would a protective backing be in order? I've read that ERC can be weak in tension. 

[Marc St Louis]

No Backing necessary.  ERC heartwood is weak in tension, the sapwood is fine

Here's an ERC self warbow I made many years ago pulling about 120# @ 30"

[FilipT]

Is common juniper similar to ERC? I know where common juniper grows and if there are good saplings I would use it as warbow material.

[gutpile]

I just made an all sapwood erc sinew backed...lil heartwood in handle..bow is very sweet shooter... gut

[Josh B]

I like sinew for certain applications but if the back is clean on that stave I would maybe thin the sapwood a bit and just make an ALB with D section limbs

+1.  Just remember it takes a lot of ERC to make a bow.  Dimensionally speaking that is.  Josh

[upstatenybowyer]

Marc- 120# at 30" I'd have to hit the gym for a few months (or years)! But seriously, thank you for the input and picture. Perhaps an ALB is the way to go.

Stalker- ERC is a juniper, not a cedar, so it probably would make a warbow if you could find a piece long enough. Mine is around 65" so it's close.

Thanks to all.