Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Prarie Bowyer on March 03, 2012, 03:25:19 am

Title: Walnut or Cherry?
Post by: Prarie Bowyer on March 03, 2012, 03:25:19 am

Which would be better for a bamboo backed trilam bow as a belly wood?

Title: Re: Walnut or Cherry?
Post by: bubby on March 03, 2012, 07:03:03 am

walnut, how about boo, cherry, walnut, nice color combo, Bub

Title: Re: Walnut or Cherry?
Post by: Slackbunny on March 03, 2012, 12:15:21 pm

I've had good results with cherry as a belly wood in a wood backed bow. It wasn't a tri-lam, but the principle should still hold. I have no experience with walnut, but I'm guessing either would work well, and both would look great.

Title: Re: Walnut or Cherry?
Post by: DarkSoul on March 04, 2012, 12:12:38 pm

I think bamboo will easily overpower both cherry and walnut. Ash or maple would probably be more balanced and create a faster and more durable bow. The bamboo has a very high tensile strength, while cherry and walnut are both moderate in compression. I'm sure you could make a boo backed walnut or a boo backed cherry bow, but I'd personally pick another woodspecies that is a better match to those two species.

Title: Re: Walnut or Cherry?
Post by: Prarie Bowyer on March 04, 2012, 05:24:12 pm

Hm... I was mostly after the color combination.  I never considered the overpowering.  I sand the boo pretty thin so I'm not certain I follow.  The middle lam would be either hickory or bamboo also.

Title: Re: Walnut or Cherry?
Post by: Pat B on March 04, 2012, 05:48:20 pm

I agree with darksoul. Compression strong woods like osage or ipe would be more appropriate for boo backing.  The boo needs to be thin anyway(1/8" at the thickest point) and all of the strongest power fibers in the boo are right on the outside surface of the boo.   Either cherry or walnut will be a good core wood.