Another bow design suggestion wanted

[loco cacahuate]

In a few weeks I will be starting  a Hickory backed IPE
I want it to end up around 50# @29"
Right now I'm thinking pyramid 1 1/4 at the fades to 3/8" at the knock. 68" or 69" ntn
Resorcinol for backing glue with about 1" or so reflex.

I've built 7 board bows all but the one I'm working on now has broken. I've never worked with IPE before so all suggestions and tweaks would be appreciated.

Peanut

[Pat B]

You could go 1" and achieve your desired weight at that length.      Pat

[david w.]

to me that sounds pretty good but i have never used ipe so this info im giving you is from reading and watching people
everything you said sounds good like Pat said you could go thinner.  I dont know about using resorcinal glue before so i dont know but i have heard good things and it should work fine.  Remember ipe is very greasy and you should wipe it down a few times with acetone.

[El Destructo]

                           What Pat said....stay narrow....Ipe is a Challenge to begin with....so go slow!!

[adb]

Ipe/hickory or bamboo is awesome. I've had excellent success with both combos. Keep it narrow... around 1" at the grip, to 3/8" nocks. If you make ipe too wide, you end up taking off so much belly wood, that there is hardly any left. Ipe also takes very little set. Caution... the dust isn't good for you, kinda like yew.

[JackCrafty]

I've worked with ipe and it would be my favorite wood if I could get staves of it.  Since it's only available in boards I have to be VERY picky....even so, I've broken a few.

One thing to keep in mind is that ipe is usually sold green or air-dried.  I've got some boards in the past with very high moisture content.  I'm not sure if the glue you mentioned works well with moist wood but I would play it safe and make sure the ipe is VERY dry.  Also, ipe will dull your hand tools very quickly. Personally, I use power-sanding tools to shape and tiller my ipe.....and I ALWAYS wear a good quality dust mask.

As for cleaning the ipe, I've always just used a little dish soap and warm water followed by a light sanding ( a couple hours later) to remove the raised grain.  Hide glue seems to stick very well to ipe.  I haven't tried other glues.

[sailordad]

really, ipe should be really dry?

i was told one time that ipe likes to be moist,being that it comes from the rainforests and all.

just curious.

[JackCrafty]

Sailordad, ipe works great in humid conditions and it is actually a bit stronger with a little moisture in it....but I think it should be really dry before it is glued.  I might be wrong about this.

[sailordad]

alrighty then, i think i get it.
dry for glue up for better adhesion of the glue.i little wet for better performance.

[Badger]

I do almost all my tillering of ipe with a scraper. I use mostly a rasp for heavy shaping and wood removal. I havent seen any ipe I would call wet. Just under normal humidity conditons you may find anywhere in the country ipe should perform pretty well. I would say from 6% to 12% it should glue up ok and perform decent. Steve

[loco cacahuate]

Thanks everyone
Would it be ok if I made it 66"? i usually go at least 68 because of my draw length.

[adb]

66" will be fine. I've made ipe/bamboo as short as 60".