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Author Topic: Silver Maple as backing?  (Read 1333 times)

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Offline upstatenybowyer

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Silver Maple as backing?
« on: December 21, 2016, 08:30:15 am »
Hi Folks,

This topic came to mind as I'm trying to decide what I want to back and ERC bow with. I know Silver Maple isn't a great bow wood, but how about as a backing? I've read that it fails in compression rather than tension. It's lighter that hard maple and I've got a ton of clear and straight saplings on my property.

Thanks
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"Even as the archer loves the arrow that flies, so too he loves the bow that remains constant in his hands."

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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: Silver Maple as backing?
« Reply #1 on: December 21, 2016, 12:12:15 pm »
Never used it, but my gut tells me its junk bow wood all the way around.
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Offline PatM

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Re: Silver Maple as backing?
« Reply #2 on: December 21, 2016, 01:16:38 pm »
Silver Maple has the same modulus of rupture as ERC. Red Maple on the other hand is substantially stronger. Sure you don't have Red Maple?
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Offline bubby

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Re: Silver Maple as backing?
« Reply #3 on: December 21, 2016, 01:20:02 pm »
Isn't silver maple the same thing as sycamore maple, if so then no not a backer
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: Silver Maple as backing?
« Reply #4 on: December 21, 2016, 01:35:58 pm »
Silver maple isn't the same as sycamore, bub. But Id guess the properties are about the same. From what I have read, sugar or rock maple is the only maple a fella wants to mess with in bow building.
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Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.

Offline PatM

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Re: Silver Maple as backing?
« Reply #5 on: December 21, 2016, 02:20:32 pm »
Quote from: PEARL DRUMS on December 21, 2016, 01:35:58 pm
Silver maple isn't the same as sycamore, bub. But Id guess the properties are about the same. From what I have read, sugar or rock maple is the only maple a fella wants to mess with in bow building.

 Ever hear of Vine Maple, Pearlie?   ;)

 You can look through the properties of the various Maples on the wood database.  http://www.wood-database.com/
« Last Edit: December 21, 2016, 02:24:01 pm by PatM »
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: Silver Maple as backing?
« Reply #6 on: December 21, 2016, 02:36:55 pm »
Sure have! Ooops. Where I come from its hard to put it in the maple family. Its superior to any maple we have around here.
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Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.

Offline upstatenybowyer

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Re: Silver Maple as backing?
« Reply #7 on: December 21, 2016, 05:57:53 pm »
Thanks guys. I'm going with white ash.
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"Even as the archer loves the arrow that flies, so too he loves the bow that remains constant in his hands."

Nigerian Proverb

Offline bubby

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Re: Silver Maple as backing?
« Reply #8 on: December 21, 2016, 07:54:21 pm »
Quote from: PEARL DRUMS on December 21, 2016, 01:35:58 pm
Silver maple isn't the same as sycamore, bub. But Id guess the properties are about the same. From what I have read, sugar or rock maple is the only maple a fella wants to mess with in bow building.




Out here the locals call sycamore silver maple too, but i still think it is just as bad a bow wood either way
« Last Edit: December 21, 2016, 08:02:29 pm by bubby »
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failure is an option, everyone fails, it's how you handle it that matters.
The few the proud the 27🏹

Offline PatM

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Re: Silver Maple as backing?
« Reply #9 on: December 21, 2016, 08:22:59 pm »
Remember there is American Sycamore and Sycamore Maple (an imported European species). Two completely different and unrelated trees.
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Offline Springbuck

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Re: Silver Maple as backing?
« Reply #10 on: December 22, 2016, 01:37:35 pm »
Quote from: PEARL DRUMS on December 21, 2016, 12:12:15 pm
Never used it, but my gut tells me its junk bow wood all the way around.

Yes.  I messed around with it once, because I had some from a tree I trimmed.  It acts like cottonwood, basically, and it was very poor in tension.  I wouldn't bother.
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