Do I need to back this bow?

[TreyNC]

So  I am back building bows and having some much needed sucess. I decided to make a lamination bow. I have an unlimited supply of red oak and some maple to work with. I just glued up a 1/16" thick piece of red oak to 3/8" thick maple(not sure what variety),  and glued on a maple handle. I am using urac 185 glue. the bow will be 1.5" at the fades to .5" nock and 64" over all, 62 n to n. Poundage will be what ever she will comfotably give me. Should I back this bow with rawhide? Raw hide is what I have on hand. I will be shaping this bow out tomarrow and could back then if needed. What do you guys think? Any other suggestions or obsevations would be greatly appreaciated as well.


Thankss

[Hrothgar]

TreyNC, are you using red oak on the back? Generally red oak isn't considered a flexible backing like hickory, bamboo, or even maple.  Probably is a good idea to back the oak with leather or silk, or some other strong flexible material. Hrothgar

[El Destructo]

I'm with you there...the Bow should be 1/16" - 1/8" Maple and 3/8" Red Oak...not the other way around....Red Oak aint too great in Compression....good luck

[TreyNC]

Thanks guys, I just thought I would try and find out. Thought maybe I would try the darker wood out to start. I will back this one with raw hide and cut out another the other way around tomorrow.

[snedeker]

if the red oak is edge grained totally parrelel, it will work fine with no backing.  Red oak is an suitable backing for maple. Your 1/16 over 3/8 will provide a bow with a relatively low draw weight.

Dave

[TreyNC]

snedeker, can you give me some ideas of thicknes to play with for say 55lbs. This was intended to be a learning project. If I reverse the wood species will this help? And how thick should the back lam be?

[Pat B]

Reverse this bow if you haven't gone too far bending it. Make the maple the back and the oak the belly. I have never used maple for back or belly but from what I hear about hard(sugar) maple it makes a good belly wood and a good back for not so strong belly woods. I have worked with hickory backed red oak so I'd bet maple would work very well with a red oak belly.    Pat