Gaboon Ebony...

[Lee Robinson .]

Wenge isn't as heavy as ebony, but it is about 20-25% heavier than maple, which many consider a standard riser wood. It isn't a "heavy" wood, but I do consider wenge a moderately dense and heavy wood (many pieces are similar to osage's specific gravity, while others may be 10% lighter than osage). Equal to zebra wood. I myself certainly would not classify wenge as a light wood.

[wingnut]

The original question was concerning Gaboon Ebony and it is very unpredictable.  There are too many other options to get the same or simular looks too gamble on a bow cracking.

We still use Zircote, Mac Ebony and B&W ebony with great success.

Mike

[zipper bowss]

I use about 50 board feet of Mecassar Ebony per year.I very rarely have an issue with it.If you are thinking of haveing a bow built with Ebony in it, and the bowyer you have chosen says no problem.Then why would you worry about what others say.He is the man that has to back the warranty.
Bill

[leatherneck]

Well said Bill. Bob Morrison made my last bow with Gaboon in the handle. Two years and no issues at all. If someone with Morrisons experience uses it then it's OK by me. Bob isn't going to put a $1400.00 bow out there if it's going to fail.

[Sixby]

Like I said I use it but with a phenolic I beam. The phenolic is pleanty strong for the entire riser even if the wood did somehow fail or get a check. I would think if it was going to check it would do it after a few hours in the hotbox at 180 though.

[Lee Robinson .]

FYI, I agree. I am not saying it can't be used. I never had a problem with it, but after all I have never used it. LOL. In all seriousness, I do know of several ebony bows that have failed others. Given its tendency to be less durable than other woods I would just never trust it enough to use it, I personally find to be superior when all things are considered. A bow can be waranteed...but I would HATE IT if a bow failed out in the middle of nowhere in a once in a lifetime hunt. That of course isn't refundable.

[LoweBow]

Originally posted by leatherneck:
Well said Bill. Bob Morrison made my last bow with Gaboon in the handle. Two years and no issues at all. If someone with Morrisons experience uses it then it's OK by me. Bob isn't going to put a $1400.00 bow out there if it's going to fail.

Not necessarily true.....  I've got a Macassar headed back to him rt now and know of another being boxed as I type this.     :(
I believe it happens to the best of them.  It was expaned to me that some pieces are more stable than others and that some of it has to do w/ the dryness of the wood and the bonding process, but what do I know.

[legends1]

We dont use it any more,we have had problems in the past when we did.It is nice looking,i do miss that.But the problems and risk dont make it worth it.

[legends1]

I dont think there is any question that you can always send it back to the bowyer to be re-made.The bigger issue is do you really want to take that chance.Do you want it to happen on a hunt.Also we all get abet atached to our bows,animals we have shot with them,shoots we have won ect.You have to ask your self,is it worth it? There are alot of wood choices out there that look very nice that have much less problems.

[Bowwild]

Is the bowyer experience with Macassar the same as Gaboon?  I LOVE Macassar with lots of brown streaks and have a bow planned with it.

[Bowwild]

Sorry,about the question above... I read more of the posts and I see that the jury is still out on Macassar?  Some use it without issue but I did note the post above involving two Macassars going back.  I guess I'll just ask the bowyer and go with his advice.

[Lee Robinson .]

I would switch. Bowyers, like all of us, are just people. The smaller risers are more likely to get away with it without issue...as less wood is less prone to crack...but there are just so many other woods that also look good that make excellent risers that I personally wouldn't risk using it regardless of if I made bows or not.

[Andy Cooper]

Any wood is susceptible to failure or checking. That's just the nature of wood. Grain structure, layout in the bow, moisture of the wood, and sealing can all be perfect, yet the wood is still subject to failure. I suspect bowyers do all they can to minimize the chances of problems, but in the end, we're still dealing with a somewhat unstable natural material that is put together by imperfect people.

Sixby and I visited about the use of gaboon in the bow he's finishing up for me. We decided to use the phenolic I beam in the riser for strength and the gaboon to contrast the cocobolo in both the riser and belly lams. He went to a lot of work to stabilize and seal it. I have no qualms whatsoever about it's use in my bow...even though it is mostly cosmetic and not so much stress, or load-bearing.

Here’s some pics from the riser glue-up.

   

   

[LoweBow]

Originally posted by Bowwild:
Sorry,about the question above... I read more of the posts and I see that the jury is still out on Macassar?  Some use it without issue but I did note the post above involving two Macassars going back.  I guess I'll just ask the bowyer and go with his advice.

I wouldn't hesitate to use it in a bow again Roy.  Both of the risers I mentioned are showing sighs of seperation between the Macassar and the phenolic at the flair area.  The wood itself is not giving way...it just seems that it may have had moisture or wasn't cured 100% when put together.
Sure cant' beat it's beauty when matched w/ the right wood combo's!

[Bowwild]

Thanks Mike!

[Bob Morrison]

Just found this........... Gabon is a very good Riser wood, it will develop crack like any other wood,You just need to fill them. I'm glad to hear some Bowyers?? will not use it as having too much moisture? any wet wood will crack, trick is to get dry wood or don't use it. I know a couple good BOWYERS that can and do use it with real good success.