Bamboo backed walnut???

[longrifle]

Anybody ever make one like this?

[Pat B]

Bamboo will probably overpower the walnut belly unless your tiller is perfect. Use the walnut as the core and add an ipe or osage belly and you will have something.

[takefive]

I had the same problem that Pat describes with the one bamboo/walnut board bow I tried to make.  The belly fretted right away.  X 2 that osage or ipe are way better choices for the belly or maybe hickory if you don't have access to those two.

[Bob at Work]

I helped a friend make a pair of "thin" hickory backed black walnut bows...they were about identical, one for him, and one for his dad.  One fretted and one didn't.  The one that didn't fret shot very well.

[Bert Frelink]

Pat is right Use Walnut as a core and use some Osage for the belly and you can get away with all kinds of stuff!! Build one and let us know how things turn out for you.
 
 
Bamboo Backed Static Recurve 60" long Walnut core and an Osage belly 58# @ 28".

[Pat B]

Bert, you are toying with me. You know how I feel about your bows. d;^)

[LittleBen]

Beautiful execution on that bow Bert. Very nice ... literally textbook.

That walnut does really give some nice contrast too.

[scars]

Bert I like that bow. Purdy, purdy

[longrifle]

Thanks men for the info.

[Bert Frelink]

Thanks guys, Pat you flatter me !!
Sorry Gerald did'nt mean to hijack your thread/question.
I think Walnut is an under rated wood in glass bows as well, I think a lot of builders avoid it under clear glass as it really highlights streaks and flaws in the glass.
As far as selfbows goes I would stick with it as a "core" only, not saying it can't be done but the wood as well as the tiller would have to be perfect.
Just my $0.02
Please let us know how things turn out for you Gerald.
Regards.
Bert.