Ash-backed Compression Spruce / 64" 44# @ 28"

[simk]

Heyho
Finally got round to take a few pics of this one. It was kinda multiple experiment again.
First time compression spruce from the lower side of a big branch. To really test it I went for a round belly off course. Silly grained ash backing also. Silly grain on the belly incl. a few yew plugs.
As failure was an option I went for the most simple design 
The compression spruce is quite heavy, bowweight is around 500 gramms. Still shoots the 10gpp within the lower 170s. It has been shot a few hundered arrows now, it has been overdrawn to 30" also a few times and I deliberatly let it strung for two days and still holds the profile. I find that remarkable and like it.
Thanks again everybody for showing your nice bows!
Cheers

[simk]

...

[simk]

thanx for watching 

[Marc St Louis]

Very nice. 

What species of spruce is that?

[BrandonH]

Is that reflex natural from the timber or did you form some reflex in?

I am also impressed by the result you got.

[dylanholderman]

Way cool I’ve been wanting to make one of that style bow sense I read about them a couple years ago but I’ve yet to come across a piece I have permission to harvest.

[bjrogg]

Beautiful profiles. Really pretty combination of woods to. Nice performance numbers to. Didn’t notice a draw weight. Be interesting to see how it holds up. I think you gave it a very good chance with that tiller.
Bjrogg

[Woody roberts]

I like that a lot.

[DC]

Very nice and very interesting Is the Spruce showing any sign of wanting to move around?

[simk]

Marc: Thanx, glad you like it  its picea abies in latin and my dictionnary says norway spruce or red pine in english.

Brandon: I glued in 2" of reflex. it holds 1" looks like all reflex sits in the grip...funny, dunno why 

Thanx dylanholderman!

Thanx bjrogg! We'll see  This combo is from some of the most common trees here - one more reason for me to try it. it's 44# @ 28"

Thanx Woody and DC! Its not moving around since it was built. It likes to reflex and warp a little if you season as half logs. If you cut slats before drying it's warping a little more. If you cut slats off-center of log you run into serious trouble making a bow. Things can be corrected with steam and dry heat but its more brittle than ash, bl or osage.

 

[Will B]

That is really nice!  I love the tiller and unstrung profile. Especially after leaving strung for 2days. Impressive!  I might have missed it, but how long is the bow?  Thanks for posting

[Santanasaur]

Wow! Awesome bow and tiller, and not something you see every day.. Makes me want to try this with compression juniper, or some old growth douglas fir. Very interesting stuff simk!

[Hamish]

Nice job. This one turned out really well.

[loefflerchuck]

Well done! and bravo for being unique.

[backtowood B2W]

Another bow which shows your talent, making bows.
Nice experiment and outcome!