[quote author=upstatenybowyer link=topic=63509.msg892478#msg892478 date=1527033235
Marc, can it be done with just one long backing strip? If so, do you just flatten/round out the back over the splice as best you can and then proceed with the glue up?
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Absolutely. I use a power lam over the splice that extends to at least 1" past the fades and it is flattened with my belt sander over the splice. Whichever way you do it the bend at the handle is going to be a bit of a problem simply because of the slight deformation of the strip caused by bending it around the curve. When using one strip I pre-bend the curve around the handle using dry-heat then use my belt sander to flatten the inside of the strip. I also use my belt sander to flatten the inside of the strip at the crown of the handle on a 2 strip backing since I do pre-bend the first strip around the handle as well. Whichever way you use there is a lot of prepping to do.
As an aside, I find it is better, in some ways, to use 2 strip because it's much easier to get 2 pristine strips than 1 full length strip
Marc i've worked with white oak and it bends really well using dry heat and also benefits with heat treating. I have not attempted a reflex deflex though so i don't know how it would work in that regards but i am confident i can get the curves i want with it. I am glad to hear i dont need to add a strip to the back it makes my first attempt at this much easier.
White Ash heat-bends well also but it can't take the compression, it chrysals badly
So Marc would hacberry be a good choice
Marc I am not worried about it chrysaling but that's only because I've always been under the assumption that a deflex reflex bow is less strained then a recurve bow given everything else is the same or am i missing something. If my assumption is correct than i shouldn't have anything to worry about cause i have not had a problem with white oak chrysaling although it does love to take set but i like to trap the back on my white oak bows as well which seems to help.
below are some of the bows I've made with white oak
As I said, I don't know much about White Oak since I don't have easy access to it. I wouldn't make a recurve of any style with White Ash. It's good sinew backed or as a flatbow or as a native style bow but it doesn't like being strained too much