How good is (moso) bamboo as a backing? How good is hard maple (1/4 sawn)?

[toomanyknots]

Umm......it doesn't look like any white oak i've seen.

Thats how most of the white oak around here looks, like a greyish brown. I think I actually bought this at my local woodcrafters.

[Thesquirrelslinger]

TMK, thats red oak or pin oak. Not white oak.

[toomanyknots]

TMK, thats red oak or pin oak. Not white oak.

It's definitely white oak. You can tell by the end grain more than anything, red oak is more porous. Here is some info on red oak verses white oak:

http://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/distinguishing-red-oak-from-white-oak/

I find it funny that one of the tips to tell the difference is "white oak is typically more expensive",  .

[bubby]

that's not red oak, I've had some of the darker stuff and it worked fine, I wonder if yours was standing dead when cut, i'll see if I have any left if I do i'll take a pic

[Thesquirrelslinger]

it looks awfully like red oak I have. But I definitely believe you over my own ID...

[toomanyknots]

that's not red oak, I've had some of the darker stuff and it worked fine, I wonder if yours was standing dead when cut, i'll see if I have any left if I do i'll take a pic

I don't know if it is that bad, but bend tests weren't great. I will tell you though I did buy some hickory which had to of had something like that going on, something was real wrong with those pieces of hickory I got. The backings I ripped from it just crumbed apart, I didn't even think to bend test it before gluing up like 4 bows as I figured it was straight grain 1/4 sawn hickory, and that would of been good enough by itself! lol When bending the backings even lightly, it sounded like you were stomping on a box of those poppers they sell around 4th of july. I broke 3 bows, 1 hick ph hick trilam, 1 HBI, and 1 hick backed hard maple. The fourth one I said no way and pried the backing off to save the (hickory) belly.

it looks awfully like red oak I have. But I definitely believe you over my own ID...

Heck, only reason I know is from folks on here and sites like the one I linked, I definitely ain't no expert.  In fact, I ain't no expert on anything really,  .