Performance of Black cherry under glass

[Mo_coon-catcher]

I have several black cherry staves that I’m debating if I want to keep messing around trying to get heavy selfbow from, it to cut them into lams to try in glass bows and as cores I’m trilams.
Sandwiches in clear glass, how does black cherry do performance wise? I’m a fan of hill style bows, so that’s what I would probably start with. Though I’ve never tried to make a glass bow.

Thanks,
Kyle

[kennym]

I like cherry for limb wood and veneers,  but not sure if it is black cherry. I buy it from a kiln on north of me. I’m sure it is the cherry that grows wild. Nice reddish brown wood .

[Pat B]

Kenny, that sounds like black cherry.
Black cherry isn't the best choice for a selfbow but it should be good under glass.

[Crooked Stic]

For core I would use edge grain. The flat grain makes some nice veneers.
   
 

[Bowjunkie]

I've used black cherry (some call it wild cherry) as lams in glass bows. It works great and is quite underrated in my opinion. I've used both air dried cherry from trees I cut, and kiln dried store bought boards. I found some nice figured/waterfall cherry boards at the hardwood store last time I was there.

I tried several selfbows with split staves from trees I cut, varying the design each time they failed, and finally flattened their backs and backed them with hickory(no glass). The hickory was just 1/16" thick. The one I still have here is 1 5/8" wide, radiused belly, 68" ntn, 58# @ 28" and still shows overall reflex. It's light as a feather in the hand and has good cast. A lively bow. I'd use it as the center lam in a trilam, but I doubt I'll ever us it again for belly wood. I love it in glass bows though.

[Pat B]

The only black cherry selfbows I have made were from the sapwood right under the bark. They make a serviceable bow but there are better options.

[canopyboy]

Yup, agree with all the above. Great under glass as veneers or core lams.

[kennym]

The cherry I’ve used for veneers were beautiful .