buying wood for a riser

[Steel]

When buying exotic wood to build a riser on a lam bow what size piece of wood do you buy to start with? Say I was going to build a 17" average recurve bow riser how large of a piece of wood should you buy length/width/shape? I have always wondered figured I should just ask and maybe get a anwser.

[bjansen]

For length:

I usually go right at for a nice piece of wood with no checks..and an inch or so over on both sides if it has some small checks.  

Width: at least 2" for a LB, maybe 3" for a recurve,...but usually the blocks I buy from the local hardwood store are 4 to 6" wide...so i always have some excess

For thickness:

I usually buy 1 3/4 thick material when I make bows with 1.5" wide lams and 2" thick material when I am making a bows with 1 3/4 lams.  The reason, being, I will generally laminated a piece or two in the riser and the extra allows me room to grind it down to the final size.

A friend of mine made most of his risers by laminating two 3/4 or 1" pieces face to face to create a thick riser block. The ones I have seen he used TBIII to glue them up and I could hardly tell there was a glue joint in the finished product.

[Mike Most]

Just for more info, The risers, Binghams suggests for a longbow is, 18x 1 1/2x 1 3/4. I hope that helps. From that finished size they cut out their riser shape.

On the last one I did, I think I had about 12 different pieces in that size of a riser. I use Smooth On epoxy to keep them together.

Good luck

Mike

[Apex Predator]

Most recurve riser blocks measure 2"X 3" X whatever length you want.

[Shaun]

I buy 1.5 inch squares 18 inches long. But I don't make large riser recurves.

[TimZeigler]

Also depends on the profile of your riser.  I like 3" minimum width for my TD recurve riser to account for any unforseen flaws in the wood, and riser shape.  You can always use the scrap for overlays or other projects.

[Steel]

So I guess you could buy 1.5" thick boards of proper width/length and glue them up to make a block? would it be better to just buy a 4x4x20 inch block of wood to start with? thanks for the info I have already learned a few things!

[Holm-Made]

Design your bow, build your form, then you will know how big of a block you will need.  

I buy my blocks in mostly 2" x 2" sizes.  I buy in lengths of 18" for longbows and 24" lengths for recurves.  18" stuff is much easier to get for me and about 1/3rd the price.  Specify that you do not want any wood that is completely covered in wax, ends are okay.  Some places saw the wood green and dip it in wax right away.  They don't want it checking on their end but within a week of when you remove the wax it will check badly.  I won't accept any wood that is over 12 percent moisture content or it will check in my dry shop, especially in the winter.  

Any company that deals with wood will have a moisture meter and you should have one too.  

Good Luck,  Chad