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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: buckeyebowhunter on May 15, 2024, 07:12:32 PM

Title: Wedge grain orientation
Post by: buckeyebowhunter on May 15, 2024, 07:12:32 PM

What is your guys opinion on grain orientation for a TD wedge. Does it matter at all for integrity? I have only used mostly action wood and bacote for wedges but have this piece of Walnut with the grain running diagonally and wasn't sure if I should use it. I know the wedge is encased in wood and glass and only flexes just slightly at the end.

Just for reference my wedges are 3/8 thick at the butt section.
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Title: Re: Wedge grain orientation
Post by: kennym on May 15, 2024, 08:36:39 PM

Edge grain would be preferrable to me, but I think the grain running off the side of wedge would be the bad thing, possibly inducing limb twist...

That will be the end of wedge there, right?

Title: Re: Wedge grain orientation
Post by: buckeyebowhunter on May 15, 2024, 08:52:29 PM

Kenny, that can be the butt or the end. I haven't cut it to length yet.

Title: Re: Wedge grain orientation
Post by: kennym on May 15, 2024, 09:47:02 PM

As long as the grain is pretty straight down the length of the wedge, it wouldn't worry me much.  Vertical grain on butt and no runout on wedge is perfect...  Not all wood is tho... :)

Title: Re: Wedge grain orientation
Post by: buckeyebowhunter on May 16, 2024, 09:02:00 AM

Thanks for the input sir!

Title: Re: Wedge grain orientation
Post by: Crooked Stic on May 16, 2024, 01:20:40 PM

There is a reason we use vertical laminated bamboo it is much stronger. So vertical grain will be best. Although being the wedge is between bambooand glass flat grain prolly be okay. I have done it and been okay

Title: Re: Wedge grain orientation
Post by: Kirkll on May 16, 2024, 01:28:12 PM

I seriously doubt you would have any limb twist issues having that wedge laminated between your other core lams and glass... but... the difference between flat grain, and vertical grain is pretty large as far as strength goes..... With that being said.... I use a lot of walnut wedge stock, and ave had zero issues with it. It has relatively good stiffness...... It's using it in risers is where you need to be mindful and use footings, I-beams, and or laminations to help strengthen it. It's a rather brittle wood.    .02 cents

Title: Re: Wedge grain orientation
Post by: Stagmitis on May 16, 2024, 01:31:29 PM

With grain runout you could always laminate a couple strips of natural linear bamboo under the wedge. I do this on most of my Hill handles for added stiffness.

Title: Re: Wedge grain orientation
Post by: buckeyebowhunter on May 16, 2024, 05:41:17 PM

Thanks for all the replies.

Would you trust em on a mid 50lb bow?
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Title: Re: Wedge grain orientation
Post by: Kirkll on May 22, 2024, 10:04:50 PM

Quote from: buckeyebowhunter on May 16, 2024, 05:41:17 PM

Thanks for all the replies.

Would you trust em on a mid 50lb bow?

Those flat grain wedges are going to be kind of limp and possibly cause some hinge at the fades. You would be better off using a vertical grain configuration..... but... they should work...

Title: Re: Wedge grain orientation
Post by: buckeyebowhunter on May 23, 2024, 10:09:39 AM

Thanks for the reply Kirk, I ended up using some action wood for the wedges on that particular bow. I'll use those flat grain Walnut wedges on a kids bow later on.

Title: Re: Wedge grain orientation
Post by: Crooked Stic on May 23, 2024, 11:10:44 AM

Not sure how they will be limp?  Being they are between lams and glass. And the only way for a hinge would be if they were long a thin.
Granted vertical is better but those would be fine in my opinion.

Title: Re: Wedge grain orientation
Post by: Kirkll on May 23, 2024, 12:38:37 PM

Quote from: Crooked Stic on May 23, 2024, 11:10:44 AM

Not sure how they will be limp?  Being they are between lams and glass. And the only way for a hinge would be if they were long a thin.
Granted vertical is better but those would be fine in my opinion.

 In my opinion, Wedge strength makes a difference in where that limb bends. in 50# plus limbs using the same stack heights, flat grain wedges made of walnut are going to be lower in draw weight and it will effect the performance too....Maybe "limp" was a poor choice of words.