Need opinions on materials

[Shore08]

Hey folks,

I am looking for some opinions on materials for a riser. Since I can't just stroll down to the hardware store to check these out, I am hoping some of you can advise me.

Here's what I'm thinking. I'd like to do some stained curly maple limbs.

For the riser, I am thinking about doing zebra for the main part with some thicker walnut accent. Since the zebra and maple are both lighter colored, I'm hoping that I'll be able to stain them similarly. For contrast, I'm hoping to do the walnut good and dark.

The other option I am considering is walnut with cherry accent. Kind of a darker riser in contrast to the lighter limbs.

Does anyone have any opinions?

Thanks!

[Bow-cephus]

Well I think those sound pretty awesome, if you are after contrast I would be a little cautious about staining the zebra and curly maple too dark

[yewsage]

why can't you just go check them out?

[Shore08]

BowCephus, thanks for the input. In my mind they look great, but I wanted someone else to tell me they thought the same  :D

 

Originally posted by yewsage:
why can't you just go check them out?

I'll be ordering online, I don't know anywhere local that deals in these types of woods (as in, ready to be made into a riser vs rough cut and unstabilized)

[Shore08]

Alright, placed my order. Curly maple limbs, walnut with cherry accent for the riser.

Thanks for the input.

[Robertfishes]

when I used walnut for a riser it was suggested by experianced bowyers that I add some fiberglass in my riser for strength.

[GINKSTER]

Shore08, I live right up the road from you and there's an exotic wood dealer in Smyrna/Lavergne. They have just about anything you need. I'll pm you when I get the address and phone #.

Richard

[Shore08]

Thanks Ginkster, that would help. I've been to the woodcrafters store in Franklin, but it was hit/miss as to what they had in stock it seemed like.

[jsweka]

Shore08 - I see we have similar tastes in woods. The last lonbow I made for myself was cherry limbs and walnut riser and my recurve was curly maple limbs and riser with walnut accents. Exotic woods are nice, but I'm just drawn to the domestic woods.  Cherry only gets nicer with age.

One tip - when you "stain" the curly maple limbs, use a water or alcohol based dye, not a typical oil based stain.  The oils in a stain may not work well with your epoxy and result in a delamination.

John

[Loren Holland]

i like the zebra idea, with an accent stripe.  i have added both paduak and purple heart between zebra and it looks great.  you don't have to use two stains, i just wipe the whole thing in golden oak, and it barely darkens the zebra, but turns walnut, strips or ipe cores much darker.  it turns the padauk to crimson and the purple heart darker.  if you wipe down bamboo with it you get a pretty golden brown. i try to plan my wood combos not only for how they look together, but so that i only have to apply one stain, and no tape, its much easier

[Shore08]

Originally posted by jsweka:
Shore08 - I see we have similar tastes in woods... Exotic woods are nice, but I'm just drawn to the domestic woods.  Cherry only gets nicer with age.

Hey John, I think you hit the nail on the head. I kept thinking to myself that it would be nice to use domestics on this one, especially given the fact that I wanted the curly maple to really draw the eye.

[Shore08]

Originally posted by Loren Holland:
you don't have to use two stains, i just wipe the whole thing in golden oak, and it barely darkens the zebra, but turns walnut, strips or ipe cores much darker.  it turns the padauk to crimson and the purple heart darker.  if you wipe down bamboo with it you get a pretty golden brown. i try to plan my wood combos not only for how they look together, but so that i only have to apply one stain, and no tape, its much easier

Thanks for the tip, I am planning to use some of the Bingham's wood stains, and I am planning to just hit it all with the same stain. I'm thinking it will really turn out nice that way.