Wood for recurve limbs

[tntsl]

What are good woods to use for recurve bow limbs? I'm looking for a smoothness first, then speed.

[macbow]

Hi, If your talking about glass and wood limbs I don't think it makes much difference. The smoothness and speed are mostly design functions and the type of wood is mostly for looks.
Ron

[Robertfishes]

I have only made 4 laminated bows, I used actionboo tapers for the first two and red elm for the next two. I am currently hunting with the first bow I made, it has .030 cocobolo veneers and a actionboo taper under 040 clear glass. I had good results with red elm tapers with walnut veneers too. I cant tell any difference in smoothness at the draw. Some say the actionboo is smoother and faster.

[Jesse Peltan]

Yew is the smoothest, bamboo isn't far behind. IMO a bamboo back yew belly is best. If it's a glass bow I also like carbon on the back and clear glass on the belly(so I can see the yew). The carbon is smoother than glass and also a little faster but some have trouble with it on the belly so I use clear glass on the belly.