Ebony limbs, who's tried it? (Paging Tim Baker?)

[jeduffey]

I'm poking around with the idea of ebony as part of a limb lamination for a bow intended to be a gift. Has anyone tried out this wood, for some thing other than accents?

[Marc St Louis]

I've never seen anyone use it. It is a very dense wood and also hard to find big enough pieces to use for bows.

[snedeker]

I would think that if you got an 1/8 inch strip, it would work if you put it between high tension backing like hickory or bamboo and use a compression strong wood as belly lam. Maybe ipe.   

Dave

[jeduffey]

I was really thinking of using it on the outside, back and belly of the limbs - because its black. I looked through the Tim Baker woods list, but didn't see it listed. I'm sure he has tried it, but I haven't seen any info on it. I'm more concerned with it being brittle or fretting like purpleheart. I have to see what my local supplier has available.

[snedeker]

Brittle, yes.   No way on the back.   Pretty dodgey on the belly too I would think.

[Rich Saffold]

I agree with what Dave just said, it's pretty on overlays, grips, or on  violins, but not on bow limbs..To bad it would be cool looiking.

Rich

[jeduffey]

This thread sure makes me wish I had access to a digital copy of Tim Baker's notebooks about every bow he's ever built. Anyone have an email address for him?

[Rich Saffold]

Tim6609@aol.com