Newbie in NE Kansas with questions

[sdc]

Hey guys I have made a oak board bow and one osage self bow. The osage didn't survive because of my ignorance/impatience. I did learn lots from the experience though.

Anyway off with the questions.

1. Is there anyone that can tell me if I can find either hickory trees or boards in NE Kansas area?
(for backing etc.)


2. I have 4 very clean ERC staves 66" long, the problem with them is every one is twisted. Can I heat them and untwist them or would it be better to just back them?

3. One more....
I was in Lowes the other night and noticed bamboo flooring. After snooping around a little I found transition pieces that were 2" wide and just about a quarter inch thick.
Has anyone used these for backing, or would there be a reason one couldn't?

Thanks all, Shanon

[Mounter]

Hey Shanon, yep there's plenty of hickory tree's around topeka. Mostly shagbark, although others are here. Haven't used ERC before, but I think you'd be better off backing it with bamboo or hickory!... Kevin

[sdc]

Thanks Kevin, I have a buddy that will let me cut anything I want on his property near big springs. I think I have located some but it am having a hard time telling it from walnut.

[Mounter]

The shag bark has strips of bark that u can grab and pull off. Also the leaves are quite a bit different. If you get a tree indentification book it should help ya. IF not, you can come out here sometime and I'll show you. I'm fairly new to this as well, but have built about a dozen bows and just finished my first hickory bow about a week ago.
 

[dutchwarbow]

2. ERC is excelent bowwood. It's however a bit touchy, so it likes a light backing like rawhide on longer bows, or sinew on shorter bows. You wouldn't want to use the latter on longer bows, as it's weight will slow them down.

Backing and heatbending isn't related in any way. you can choose for one option, both, or neither. If you want to get rid of the twist, heat it out. If you want to back it, back it. if you want both, do both. But be sure to get rid of the twist first  

3. vertical bamboo flooring is a excelent core material, but I've heard different stories about it on bows. Seems to be pretty weird stuff, but almost unbreakable. you should definately give it a try.

as for wooden backings on ERC, both boo and hickory might be a little to agressive on the soft and lighter ERC. If you want to back it with wood, Ash or maple would probably be better, but I suggest to keep the back prestine and back it with rawhide. It's more historically correct, and leaves some character in it.

Nick

[sdc]

Thanks for the offer and the advice Kevin, I will round myself up a tree guide soon. If that doesn't work I may need some assistance  
BTW- thats a great looking bow! How does it shoot?

Dutchwar thanks for the insight, I may try the boo flooring with another bow I am planning. As far as heating to work on the twist, is a heat gun "the tool" or is there other alternatives?