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Offline NTProf

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maple any good?
« on: November 07, 2009, 11:08:54 am »
Would hard maple work for a narrower, longer bow from a sapling? I am thinking about saplings around 1 1/2" (see Milan's hazelnut bow) and was wondering if maple would stand up to the higher crown of a smaller diameter sapling. Would I just need to go longer (70-72")? Or should I look for other woods?
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Offline Pat B

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Re: maple any good?
« Reply #1 on: November 07, 2009, 11:49:52 am »
At that length it should be OK. Try to make the belly a bit more flat and that should also help.
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Offline NTProf

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Re: maple any good?
« Reply #2 on: November 07, 2009, 12:21:08 pm »
Thanks, Pat.
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Offline adb

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Re: maple any good?
« Reply #3 on: November 07, 2009, 12:35:39 pm »
I'd have to say that maple is by far my favourite whitewood. I've made several dozen bows from it, without a single failure. It excels with a wide and flat profile, and I usually make the limbs a minimum of 1.5"... 66" to 68" in length has also given me the best results. I've backed maple with just about everythig, including hickory, rawhide, silk, and canvas. I keep the draw weight <50#, and set has been very minimal. Most of the bows have had a rigid handle, with symmetric tiller. I've even used edge grained maple as a backing strip with osage with terrific result. Botom line? I love maple.
« Last Edit: November 07, 2009, 02:17:36 pm by adb »
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Offline bambule

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Re: maple any good?
« Reply #4 on: November 07, 2009, 01:35:58 pm »
Me too, Maple is a great bowwood. Iit's excellent for Holmegaard/Möllegabet-Designs. The wood is so light that you can have a handshockfree Bow with wide limbs over 3/4 of the limblength.
I've build up to 55#. But adb is right - more than 50# is not suitable for maple, except you have really good wood. You can temper maple carefully - too much gives frets.
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Offline Jesse

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Re: maple any good?
« Reply #5 on: November 07, 2009, 10:44:29 pm »
Yup Maple is great from my limited experience. I induced a little reflex and heat treated with excellent results.
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radius

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Re: maple any good?
« Reply #6 on: November 07, 2009, 10:52:45 pm »
i've used it as a core wood on r/d bows that turned out not too bad
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Offline Ryano

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Re: maple any good?
« Reply #7 on: November 08, 2009, 07:17:36 am »
Maple should make a fine sapling bow as long as you have a clean back. High crown's with knots on the back have spelled disaster for me in the past. Hard maple makes a great  self bow.
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Offline El Destructo

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Re: maple any good?
« Reply #8 on: November 08, 2009, 08:13:31 am »
NTProf.......I have made several from Hard Rock....Sugar....and Birdseye Maple and had no trouble with them...I have them made from Branches and also made from Decrowned Stave also....If they have a Steep Back or Knots.....when I Decrown them...I always Back them with Rawhide though...To me Maple makes a Beautiful Mid Weight Selfbow....JMO
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Offline barebo

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Re: maple any good?
« Reply #9 on: November 08, 2009, 06:22:48 pm »
I made a Hard Maple longbow from a 5" tree - sapling may be smaller. The one I cut was clear and straight, and made a sweet bow.
1-3/4" fades to 1/2" tips -67" ntn - pulls an honest 66#@28", but no stack and REALLY casts an arrow. Maple is a great wood, but it's gotta be hard/rock, and not soft Maple.
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Offline NTProf

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Re: maple any good?
« Reply #10 on: November 09, 2009, 10:47:46 am »
Thanks everyone. I thnk I will try about 1 3/4" to 2" wide and about 66-68 inches long. I have had good luck with maple boards, but want to try maple saplings (i do not have the tools to work with over 3" saplings/trees).
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