Working with Ash

[razorback]

Well don't really need help to carry it out, but thanks for the offers      
What I have is a futon couch that has been retired and is made entirely of ash. Some of it could be made into bows.

1. What is a good backing for Ash. There are several long pieces that have knots or runouts that would need a solid backing.

2. Has anybody had success making a 3 piece takedown, solid wood bow. I don't want to get into laminate bows but would like to use some of the slats as limbs. There are several nice pieces but they are only 1 3/4" wide and 30" long. Dont think that is enough wood to splice and make a hunting weight bow out of.

3. Anyone got a good design for a coffee table that the boss has ordered built from the couch. Probably need to get this done first              

Any thoughts would be appreciated. I am looking to push myself a little with this stuff and learn a lot.

[Wingless Arrow]

i havent even completed my first bow yet, so im not any sort of expert, but maybe back it with hickory?

and for the coffee table, maybe a square frame, with glass in the middle? or some other shape with a glass surface. like an octagon.

[razorback]

Anyone got any sugestions. I am thinking of Z splicing 2 of the slats and making a shorter bow, Probably give to my daughter, but would like to try the 3 piece idea. Would Oak make a good riser or is it too brittle.

[okie64]

In my limited experience with ash it is not very strong in compression. It is fairly tension strong and  I've heard of people using it as a backing for lighter woods like juniper or cherry. I dont think your pieces are long enough to make a bow for yourself depending on your draw length. If it were me I would z-splice it and put a 1/8" hickory backing on it and make a short draw length bow.

I've never tried a 3 piece so I cant help you there.

Any kind of oak is plenty strong enough to use in a riser.

[razorback]

Thanks Okie, thats kind of what I was thinking. Though some of the short pieces are good enough to make a bow without backing. Will probably make one for my daughter or a short draw for myself. Would be interesting to learn a new style of shooting.

[Bradford]

I made a three piece take down with hickory.. I built it like I was going to laminate a fiberglass bow, but just used the wood.  Turned out good.

Ash is hard, so for the riser would be great.. I would use hickory to back it with on the limbs.

but if you do a 20" riser with 26" limbs.. you would end up with a 64" bow.. should be good.

Have fun!

[razorback]

Thanks Bradford.
On your limbs did you glue up laminations or use solid wood with a backing. I'm not sure how I would tiller the wood limbs. might just have to get creative.

[Bradford]

I did three lams... maple in the middle and hickory on belly and back.. Made a quick form and strapped it down using tight bond 3.

Got bow together and tillered it just like full wood.  I mic'd the thickness first and matched then sanded off the sides of the limbs and matched.. tillered out nice and still have the bow to this day.  It was my first bow.. wanted to make sure I could do it before I invested a ton of money in forms and glass and such.