Lets talk tri-lams.

[adb]

Depends on what you're trying to achieve. I don't think there's a 'best' combo for a tri-lam, but there are many very good combos.
Hick/osage/osage would be a tri-lam, but not a good one IMHO. One of the nice things about a tri-lam is the contrast in the colors of the different types of wood, and the combo you suggest would simply look like a bi-laminate bow. If you had two thinner pieces of osage you wanted to use up, this would be a good option, but there are much better options for a nice tri-lam longbow.

[bow101]

Maple and white oak lams are good. Maple for back & belly oak core.  Never built a warbow. Thickness. I don't know try about .600 thou"              It may get you about 80#

[adb]

.6 thousands of an inch??? I make my lams usually 1/4".

[bow101]

Yes you are correct.  Getting confused on these fractions.  Really meant to say inch "  not Thou.

Bingham Projects chart.
eg. 68" longbow , 50# , .389"

 Bingham project charts correspond to their kits.
*all variables taken into consideration, riser lenght, wood used, etc.....etc....

[adb]

0.6" would be too thick. Like I mentioned, I usually make my lams 0.25". 0.6" would be about right for the belly wood however.

[bow101]

0.6" would be too thick. Like I mentioned, I usually make my lams 0.25". 0.6" would be about right for the belly wood however.

Ya lost me, I meant total stack ...like in total thickness of a Tri Lam, 4 lams 5 lams whatever.

Bingham Projects chart.
eg. 68" longbow , 50# , .389"

[adb]

Isn't Bingham all about FG bows and laminations using FG??
0.389" is about 3/8" and that won't make a 68" 50# wooden bow.

[bow101]

0.389" is about 3/8" and that won't make a 68" 50# wooden bow.

Mmm so how much..?

[adb]

That's a very difficult question to answer. There is no secret formula in bow making with wood.

For a FG bow, you make it a specified thickness, shape, and width, and you get a predictable result. Not so with wooden bows. Depends on the wood, depends on the design, depends on what you want as a final result. I can't offer you a secret formula, or a specific thickness... they don't exist.

I think if I had three different bows, all with similar designs, and perhaps even with the same wood (or wood combinations), that they would all end up with different thickness dimensions. Wood is a natural material, and even wood of the same species will have variable densities. For me, that's part of the joy... not knowing... not being able to predict the final outcome with exact certainty.

You could probably end up close to 50# using hickory backed ipe and making it a pyramid bow with wide flat limbs, but it would be a gamble at 3/8" total thickness. I would definitely start thicker and tiller to desired effect.

[bow101]

Sounds good, I think that pretty well wraps it up.  I'll try to keep it on the heavy side over  3/8" total thickness for sure.

[Squirrelslayer]

The ELB im making will be a bamboo back, osage core, lemonwood belly. im doing it on a longbow making course on the 17th of may should be fun. SS

[Cameroo]

I think you'd do better to have the osage on the belly, but that's just me.

When are you going to post a bow for us Squirrelly?  You sure talk about making them lots    

[Squirrelslayer]

Well im doing the bow makin course on the 17th so I guesse some time around then.  Im also waiting for my maple to dry and ive got 14 exams coming up these next 2 months. But after that when its the summer ill be a bow makin machine! SS

[WillS]

Who's running the bow making course?  Bickerstaffe? Stratton?

[Squirrelslayer]

Its run by a guy called will lord. SS