Red oak siyahs

[Corvus]

Think I might use the extra board of red oak to spice up my all maple cores in my upcoming projects. That or I make a couple sinew backed red oak bows, at which point I would wonder if I should trap to widen the belly or if I should add a lam to the belly. Not much experience with red oak, so not sure how worried need to be about compression failure if doing the sinew backed bows instead of chopping it into siyahs

[StickMark]

The issue of compression with sinew backed hickory is similar. I think I recall going too wide on hickory and sinew invites trouble; it did for me.

[willie]

Stick,
I assume you went as wide on the back with the sinew as the  belly?  How thick was the sinew compared to the thickness of the hickory on the one that gave trouble?

[Corvus]

Stick,
I assume you went as wide on the back with the sinew as the  belly?  How thick was the sinew compared to the thickness of the hickory on the one that gave trouble?

I would be curious to know as well. Also why I wondered if trapping the back so the belly is wider would be viable to keep the sinew backing from causing compression failure or if I should just lam the belly with something that is compression strong. Doubt I will have any horn left after the main projects, but have a lot of sinew to toss on a couple extra bows from the spare board

[willie]

I wondered if trapping the back so the belly is wider would be viable to keep the sinew backing from causing compression failure

Trapping seems to make sense if the sinew is getting the job done, and you want to minimize excess weight, at least up to the point where excessive trapping causes stability issues.

Stability, of course, also depending a lot on the limb recurve geometry.

[PatM]

Sinew does not cause compression failure directly.

[Corvus]

Sinew does not cause compression failure directly.

Not directly, but with regards to red oak I am not sure how well it's compression strength holds up when adding extra tension. Why I asked if I should be adjusting the belly side to compensate that as I am not familiar with red oak. I am likely just going to use half the board for siyahs and other half make 2 billets for something else and just play with some ideas