Maple backed red oak longbow

[ajooter]

I didn't glue in any reflex to the tips.  The shear weight of the clamps and the manor I let it dry gave the limbs a little reflex.  Heat treating is out of the question at this point.  It hasn't lost any of the reflex as of yet during the tillering process though.  At some point or other I will take some pics of the maple backings I have as well as some of the hickory ones as well and get your guys opinion.  I want to get your opinion on the grain patterns in both.

[ajooter]

She broke....pictures to come later.  Bow was bending great at 3" brace. I wanted to see what drawlength would get me to 60# and around 17"......pow!!!!!  I was just hitting 60# @ that point.  Back to the drawing board.  Still had a lot of fun.

[adb]

60# is a pretty big ask for that wood and design.

[kevinsmith5]

The highest I take red oak is 35. Beyond that even a char ale one seems to lose cast due to set rapidly.

[adb]

Go with ipe or osage on the belly next time, and you'll easily make your 60#.

[ajooter]

I was looking into some ipe this morning.  I have some hickory backings as well to try.  I may try the maple and hickory and see how they compare.  Hopefully have pics of the break up tonight.

[ajooter]

I wish i had pics of it on the tree before it broke.  I thought it looked really good.  I think I am going to try wrapping a bicycle intertube around the limbs next time i glue on a backing.  Anyways...here's the break.  I also threw a picture of the brace I had the bow set at.





Thanks again for all the advise.

[Joec123able]

Broke right where the grain swirls

[ajooter]

Do you think a backing may have made a difference? 

[adb]

Do you think a backing may have made a difference?

  The maple is the backing.

[ajooter]

I set myself up for that one!!  Burlap or rawhide I meant?

[adb]

No... you just need to pick the best backing material and apply it properly. A backing over a backing to ensure the backing doesn't fail is a flawed method of thought and will just add unnecessary mass to your limbs IMHO.

[The Gopher]

So did you use any clamping when gluing the backing on? Also what glue did you use? If you didn't clamp at all, i bet you had a bad glue line and the backing wasn't really doing anything, especially if you used a non-gap filling glue.

[Josh B]

The highest I take red oak is 35. Beyond that even a char ale one seems to lose cast due to set rapidly.

Are you saying that red oak is only good to 35# in a strictly laminate scenario or are you including selfbows/boardbows made of red oak as well?  Josh

[bushboy]

Straight grained.