Ipe board bow questions

[MikeWinVA]

In using an ipe board that has proper grain orientation can the board be adequately backed with sinew? How much should I use if it is suitable?

Can ipe be heat bent or steamed to recurve the tips?

Or am I better off using bamboo or hickory?  I have a nice straight grained 5/4 hickory board in the shop.  How thick/thin should I make the hickory so I don't overpower the ipe?

[mikkekeswick]

Yes sinew will work, the issue you may have is getting a good bond between the two. To get around it you need to size the ipe with 10 coats of 5% solution collagen glue, with drying time inbetween. You should end up with a shiny surface.
Ipe cannot be heat bent at all.
Bamboo/hick will both work very well as a backing for ipe.
Bamboo I would reduce to about 1/8 thick at the handle to 1/16th or so at the tips. Hickory works very well at 1/4. No need to worry about overpowering ipe!

[Pat B]

Good advice from Mike. I would go with hickory or boo, hickory being my favorite. 1/8" thick hickory is plenty thick enough. Adding about 4" of Perry reflex(glued in reflex) should end up with 1" of shot in reflex or maybe unbraced flat side profile.
 Also, don't make the bow too wide. 1 1/8" to
1 1/4" wide at the fades is plenty for an ipe bow with boo or hickory baking.
 Most tropical hardwoods don't manipulate well with heat. You could add kerfed recurves but not heat bent.