black glass

[Dave Dawg]

Has anyone ever used red oak for a core of a laminated bow? I was thinking about doing this because of the availability of red oak but i was thinking the glass might overpower the red oak. Whaddya' think?

[Apex Predator]

Should be fine with glass on either side.  Wouldn't be my first choice though.  Hickory is readily available at most any lumberyard, and make a really fine core wood.

[Dave Dawg]

how bout maple? I have a really beautiful piece of hard rock maple with straight grain, no knots and all that. Think its worth a 'shot'?

[Mike Most]

Hard rock maple is a good choice. I have used it several times. Under black glass your only going to see the edge anyway. Are you making a long bow or a recurve?

good luck

mike

[Apex Predator]

Hard rock maple is one of the best!  Lot's of limbs, including compound bows, been made from it through the years.

[Dick in Seattle]

I used oak, white, not red, on a lam bow.   Really lovely under glass, but so slow I named the bow "Slowpoke".   Still fun to shoot, but hickory or maple are better choices.    Actually, if you want a pretty, easy to work wood, I recently did a glassed cherry bow.   very pretty and shoots very well.

[Dave Dawg]

Well i haven't really sorted out the whole 'hot box' deal and all that other equipment necessary to make a laminated bow.. (and the fear of 'bubbles' under the glass.. Yikes!) So i decided to get a little more experience working with a more basic stickbow.

I'm hoping to have this one come out at 55# or 60# and it'll be a linen backed maple stickbow with a red oak and maple riser and red oak nock overlays..

One problem though..

I don't think the maple is rock hard maple.. looks to be a different type.    

I bought the piece from my local Menards.. does anyone know if this maple is actualy maple? Or whether its some sneaky 'soft wood'?  

[Dave Dawg]

I am thinking about my next bow being a cherry lam longbow.. thanks for the idea Dick!

[Bald Spot]

How about Walnut?  It's available and should make a really good core.  Can be pretty as well.

[JD_Archer]

Originally posted by Bald Spot:
How about Walnut?  It's available and should make a really good core.  Can be pretty as well.

without a doubt... walnut cores on a glass bow are excellent. maple is excellent too, but heavier in mass. using oak is like putting lead lining in your tennis shoes.

[ChristopherO]

DD,
Where in Ohio are you?  I ask because I have the hot box and am in the process of rearranging my garage to allow a better wood shop space to be utlilized.  I'm in SW Ohio