Cocobolo

[Buemaker]

I have had these two nice pieces of Cocobolo and I have had them for years, each are 2x4x20 inches. I never could bring myself to use them, but now I figure I better use them before I get too old. I can not decide whether I should use them as they are, perhaps with just an I beam or if I should laminate them with strips of another wood species in a recurve riser. Any opinions?

[Roy from Pa]

A black I beam...

[Buggs]

Sell them and get some wood you are not reluctant to use

[rainman]

They look great as handles of BBO bows.

[Roy from Pa]

Ya, send one to ole Roy:)

[Kirkll]

Here is one I did with an ebony I beam and belly ramp caps.  That stuff is getting hard to find anymore.

[Bowjunkie]

I don't do I beams. I've made bows with cocobolo risers over 80 lbs without them.

I got a nice big chunk at the local hardwood store a couple years ago, about 2x6x60, probably got more than I'll ever use. Havent touched it yet. Got a big chunk of bubinga, zebrawood, Brazilian rosewood, and some wide boards and a 4x4 of ipe for limbs and risers that day too. Good day. I try to stay away from that store because i can't control myself in there for some reason 

[Roy from Pa]

About time you make a bow there, Bowjunkie..

 

[rainman]

It makes a real good Bamboo backed bow if you got pieces long enough.  Has to be very narrow kind of like Ipe.  I have built 2.

[Kirkll]

I don't do I beams. I've made bows with cocobolo risers over 80 lbs without them.

I got a nice big chunk at the local hardwood store a couple years ago, about 2x6x60, probably got more than I'll ever use. Havent touched it yet. Got a big chunk of bubinga, zebrawood, Brazilian rosewood, and some wide boards and a 4x4 of ipe for limbs and risers that day too. Good day. I try to stay away from that store because i can't control myself in there for some reason 

I suppose it depends on the bow you are building, and the riser shape as far as feeling the need for an I beam goes…. I like building TD bows with sleek looking risers from 17-21” in length…. That cocobolo is strong wood, but that riser starts flexing too much for my liking in bows over 55-60#. Those G-10 I-beams do not flex at all. I’ve built them over 100# before and they are still going strong after years of use.      Kirk