Why bother searching for the Perfect Board, when you can use fiberglass backing?

[bradsmith2010]

sounds like where you live is very difficult to get wood,, fiberglass is probably the best way to go for you,,, best to you in your bow building,, 

[bubby]

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,52048.0.html
Any chance you have privet in your area

[George Tsoukalas]

There are plenty of natural backings including sinew, rawhide, linen, silk and burlap from best to least. I would not use sinew on a board. Too much work but it'll get the job done too.
Jawge

[Bowyer Wannabe]

There are plenty of natural backings including sinew, rawhide, linen, silk and burlap from best to least.

Thanks.
What if the board is plain sawn and has run offs in its grain? Would silk backing help such a board bow stay in one piece?

[Marc St Louis]

There are plenty of natural backings including sinew, rawhide, linen, silk and burlap from best to least.

Thanks.
What if the board is plain sawn and has run offs in its grain? Would silk backing help such a board bow stay in one piece?

The silk will likely keep the bow together but it will have a better chance of doing so if you take the edges off the board before applying the silk.  That way the back of the bow will work more from the center with little wood working on the edges

[willie]

wannabe-

are the run offs what you see in the rings, or are you following along a split in the board?

if the board is plain sawn, it helps to look at the edge rings also.

a photo of the edge and face would help


willie

[George Tsoukalas]

It depends on the number of run outs (run ups) per limb.
For a 50-55# bow up to 2 per limb is ok.
For 3-4 per limb then use silk.
Anymore than that then go with linen.
That's a rough guide.
Yes, always round the edges.
There can be no knots in a board no matter how small. It will likely break there.
More on my site.
Jawge
http://traditionalarchery101.com/

[Bowyer Wannabe]

^ Thanks, this helps a lot.
I am starting to think that my theory is right and that backing can turn a bad board into a shoot able bow.

OK people, I will use silk or linen and not fiberglass, but I suspect that my board will still be of less than stellar quality. Of course, I have to find it first. Will check at few other places tomorrow.

[George Tsoukalas]

I built 2 ash bows of low poundage for my nieces. The staves were not good but survived with a linen backing. Linen is better than silk. Jawge

[JoJoDapyro]

^ Thanks, this helps a lot.
I am starting to think that my theory is right and that backing can turn a bad board into a shoot able bow.

OK people, I will use silk or linen and not fiberglass, but I suspect that my board will still be of less than stellar quality. Of course, I have to find it first. Will check at few other places tomorrow.

A bad board is still a bad board. Backing is not the savior of all bows. It can save some, but most of the issues you run into are mistakes by the bowyer himself.

seems like black locust is replanted in some places for firewood? maybe could find a nice piece for reasonable price.

Black Locust is used all over Europe for more than just fire wood. They don't yet have (hopefully never will) Locust Borers, so they can use the wood for furniture more readily.

About boards, I think boards are harder to make bows out of than Staves.

About the use of fiberglass (Spits on the ground), It's a mess. It is a health hazard. It stinks. It is a fire hazard.
It does have its place, but in my opinion it is not here.

[riverrat]

in regards to your original question in the title of this thread...for the same reason i dont have chinese kids build it for me Tony