good read Pearly , as some said already thickness matters 1/4 inch hickory is too thick for backing 1/8th is better and depending on the core trapping is an option as well. the ibeam thing i did on two bows of different designs with hickory backed ipe center and hard maple on either side. beautiful but i didnt see any added compression strength , and i had to thin my backing to keep from over powering the core
It's not going to add any compressive strength. I was simply talking about losing weight from the limbs whilst storing the same amount of energy.
Look at where the work is being done - surfaces not somewhere in the limb. Where do chrysals occur?
I know people talk about the thickness mattering and maybe it does a little but the surface area of the material is much more important.
Why do paper thin backings work on a bellywood that wouldn't stand not being backed?
If thickness of a backing is all important why does trapping work?
If a material has a certain resistance to stretching making it thinner then gluing it to a belly wood does not change this resistance.
Questions questions! Ain't bow making just great!
