oak bow

[bubby]

i was thinking of building aall oak laminated bow. any suggestions?

[Pat B]

Why laminated? A well made oak self bow can shoot just as well.

[bubby]

i've got some oak boards and i thought i could r/d and it would hold it better

[Pat B]

I'm sure it could be done but oak isn't the best candidate for that design.

[bubby]

thank's, I've been building some board bows and a bamboo backed epay flatbow that I bought floor tillered and just wanted to try some differant methods. Quess I should drive the 80 mile round trip  to get some hickory boards. Thank's for replying

[bubby]

I was wondering what makes oak a poor choice to lam. haven't built alot of bows, still learning

[John Scifres]

I built quite a few kid's bows use 1/4" oak slats backed with edge-grain 1/4" oak slats.  They made a bow but no matter how much reflex I glued in, it would eventually follow the string mercilessly.  This was early in my bowmaking so I am sure I could do better now.

[Pat B]

Oak might make a core lam but it doesn't have the compression strength needed for a belly lam nor does it the tension strength necessary for a back lam, especially in a highly stressed design like a R/D bow.
   I have made some very good hickory backed red oak bows, either with a flat profile or reflexed profile(which are now flat).

[bubby]

I see why I shouldn't use the oak like I wanted, all i've made so far are oak bows, except for the epay. what about cedar, maple or what other woods will work well. no local access to osage, my dad is from Missoury and he said it was everywhere. anyway, thanks for replying

[bubby]

quess I should proof read what I'm writing, spelled Missouri wrong, sorry.

[Roy Steele]

Again PATS said it all.

[Van Rowan]

What about hackberry as bow wood with no laminations.

[bubby]

not sure what hackberry is, how about blue gum eucaliptus