Twisty cores?

[toomanyknots]

Well blood wood for me never wants to stay straight. It always twists like a barbers pole right off the first cut. But I always wanted to try it as a core, as it seems most everyone else uses it as a core (in english longbows). I ripped some out recently, it is a bit twisted but not absolutely horrid. I mean, it ain't ideal either though. But I was wondering what a twisty core might do to a bow once it is glued up and tillered out? I am thinking of using it in a triliam english longbow as a core, maybe 5/16" or so thick in the middle, tapered to 1/8" or so maybe at the tips. For the life of me, blood wood does not want to stay straight.

[BOWMAN53]

i would think that once its sandwhiched between to pieces it wouldnt make a difference. but im horrible with glue ups so i wouldnt know anything of use.

[toomanyknots]

i would think that once its sandwhiched between to pieces it wouldnt make a difference. but im horrible with glue ups so i wouldnt know anything of use.

Shoot, I'm sure you ain't no worse than me,  . I'm wondering if the internal stress of gluing up the bow with the core that is wanting to twist will come out during tillering the bow?

[Pat B]

You might try to straighten it out a bit before glue-up by clamping it to a form and heating it up. I know tropical woods don't manipulate well to heat but it might help some.

[toomanyknots]

You might try to straighten it out a bit before glue-up by clamping it to a form and heating it up. I know tropical woods don't manipulate well to heat but it might help some.

I haven't thought of that yet. That would be nice if it works. I would love to use blood wood as a core, just because it is so pretty. In reality it is dense and oily, it probably sucks performance wise. Maybe I should use it as a belly instead?