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Author Topic: Wenge as a belly lam?  (Read 1948 times)

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Offline upstatenybowyer

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Wenge as a belly lam?
« on: January 22, 2019, 06:21:34 pm »
Yes? No? Experiences? Suggestions? Cautions? Allergic reactions? (I'm asking the former cause I had a major reaction to Lacewood  :NN)

All thoughts are welcome.  :)

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"Even as the archer loves the arrow that flies, so too he loves the bow that remains constant in his hands."

Nigerian Proverb

Offline PatM

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Re: Wenge as a belly lam?
« Reply #1 on: January 22, 2019, 06:34:16 pm »
There was a Wenge bow posted on here recently. Also an article back in the day in the mag called "The Wonderful World of Wenge".
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Offline Badger

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Re: Wenge as a belly lam?
« Reply #2 on: January 22, 2019, 06:35:31 pm »
  I know there have been some successful bows made using wenge but I think it is very difficult and the majority I have done myself and heard of blew up during the build. Not a very elastic wood.
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Offline leonwood

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Re: Wenge as a belly lam?
« Reply #3 on: January 23, 2019, 04:35:09 am »
What Steve said. It splinters really easily and will probably explode before you get any chrysals. Can be done but tiller has to be spot on. May be a good idea to back it with ash or maple instead of bamboo. (I used boo and it exploded on me, was one of the first laminated bows I made so my tiller skills where pretty awfull ;D)
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Offline dylanholderman

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Re: Wenge as a belly lam?
« Reply #4 on: January 23, 2019, 04:43:17 am »
I’ll comment on the allergies.
I haven’t worked with it myself but one of my friends is highly allergic to it, if you reacted to some other woods proceeded with caution.
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Offline upstatenybowyer

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Re: Wenge as a belly lam?
« Reply #5 on: January 23, 2019, 05:20:47 am »
Okay guys, thanks. I picked up a 2x2x36" piece that I was able to get two billets out of. It had very straight grain and was on sale so I thought, "why not?"

I'm going to use it as the belly on a tri-lam, so I'm hoping it'll be thin enough to make the stress on it minimal. I'll give it a whirl and report back.

Thanks again.  :)
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"Even as the archer loves the arrow that flies, so too he loves the bow that remains constant in his hands."

Nigerian Proverb

Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: Wenge as a belly lam?
« Reply #6 on: January 23, 2019, 06:14:55 am »
Id save it for tips and grips.
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Offline paulsemp

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Re: Wenge as a belly lam?
« Reply #7 on: January 23, 2019, 06:30:54 am »
I've made one or two. If I remember right they turned out okay. For the price  not worth it in my opinion. if I wanted to make a backed board bow  I'd reach for a piece of white oak or maple or anything else before I grabbed a piece of wenge now
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