Ipe questions

[loefflerchuck]

I didn't leave enough wood to get the power I wanted but have a near round cross section shooter. 78" long 69# @ 28.5". 1 1/16" wide at the handle. 7/8" mid limb 5/16 below nock. It has decent power but is a little harsh on release.  The bow Justin S made in a post would be a improvement and how I would make the next one. His was just under a inch at the handle and 1/2" wide mid limb. As he said this heavy wood needs to be very narrow for a faster and more comfortable shooting bow. I see why everyone backs this wood, but it is fun to try a self bow the way they were made in South America from this wood, and the dark color is beautiful. It is also fun to tiller a bow with a round cross section. Just scrape away in a circle to maintain the shape.

[bubby]

Very cool chuck and good info

[wizardgoat]

Awesome bow Chuck, looks fun to shoot

[mullet]

I had the sister board to the one that Justin made his self bow from. I ended up backing mine with bamboo, I didn't trust a couple of swirls in the wood.

[ccase39]

I have one in the process backed with bamboo. The properties were not at all what I expected and it has been neat feeling the different properties of different woods. I had only worked with Osage until last week when I started a hickory self bow. I got first hand experience on why not to assume that all woods are similar. The Hickory will be underweight but I love working with it. Ipe is a whhhoooole different animal. I'm glad I saw this thread and will bookmark it. I bought a 1 by 6 piece and am going to try to eventually get 3 bows backed with bamboo. I planned on just cutting it into 3 one by twos. Will this work? I can plain it down thinner if needed.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Killer tiller Chuck. Ipe always amazes me at how little wood it requires to make one damn stout bow.

[Aaron H]

Great job Chuck, good info here

[KS51]

I have one in the process backed with bamboo. The properties were not at all what I expected and it has been neat feeling the different properties of different woods. I had only worked with Osage until last week when I started a hickory self bow. I got first hand experience on why not to assume that all woods are similar. The Hickory will be underweight but I love working with it. Ipe is a whhhoooole different animal. I'm glad I saw this thread and will bookmark it. I bought a 1 by 6 piece and am going to try to eventually get 3 bows backed with bamboo. I planned on just cutting it into 3 one by twos. Will this work? I can plain it down thinner if needed.

If you are backing with Boo and you are staying in the 50-60 # range, you shouldn't need your boards much more than 1-1/4" wide.  If the board is 5/4 decking, and you have a thin kerf ripping blade, you could rip each board in half and add back a 1/8" power lam.  So you possibly have 8 bows worth of Ipe if you work it right.

Ken

[ccase39]

I have one in the process backed with bamboo. The properties were not at all what I expected and it has been neat feeling the different properties of different woods. I had only worked with Osage until last week when I started a hickory self bow. I got first hand experience on why not to assume that all woods are similar. The Hickory will be underweight but I love working with it. Ipe is a whhhoooole different animal. I'm glad I saw this thread and will bookmark it. I bought a 1 by 6 piece and am going to try to eventually get 3 bows backed with bamboo. I planned on just cutting it into 3 one by twos. Will this work? I can plain it down thinner if needed.

If you are backing with Boo and you are staying in the 50-60 # range, you shouldn't need your boards much more than 1-1/4" wide.  If the board is 5/4 decking, and you have a thin kerf ripping blade, you could rip each board in half and add back a 1/8" power lam.  So you possibly have 8 bows worth of Ipe if you work it right.

Ken

Gotcha. All I have is a little 9 inch band saw. Its kind of crappy for that kind of stuff. I have been tempted to buy something bigger and more precise for a while now.

[Bryce]

I have one in the process backed with bamboo. The properties were not at all what I expected and it has been neat feeling the different properties of different woods. I had only worked with Osage until last week when I started a hickory self bow. I got first hand experience on why not to assume that all woods are similar. The Hickory will be underweight but I love working with it. Ipe is a whhhoooole different animal. I'm glad I saw this thread and will bookmark it. I bought a 1 by 6 piece and am going to try to eventually get 3 bows backed with bamboo. I planned on just cutting it into 3 one by twos. Will this work? I can plain it down thinner if needed.

If you are backing with Boo and you are staying in the 50-60 # range, you shouldn't need your boards much more than 1-1/4" wide.  If the board is 5/4 decking, and you have a thin kerf ripping blade, you could rip each board in half and add back a 1/8" power lam.  So you possibly have 8 bows worth of Ipe if you work it right.

Ken

You could go even narrower. 7/8" would be alright

[Bryce]

Very well excited chuck. Any chance for some more detailed photos?