Grain orientation

[Mckenzie]

I am building my first glass laminated bow and am about ready to grind the limb laminations.  My plan is to sandwich a layer of bubinga between two pieces of maple.  Should my limb laminations be flat or quartersawn?  Or does the grain orientation of the laminations matter other than aesthetics?  Thanks in advance . . . M

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[Bradford]

Hey M,
  That is the beautiful thing about fiber glass.  Now if you are going for pure performance, you want all the grains to run along the length. But I know when I am working with exotics woods, I cant always afford the "ideal" piece.. so as an accent or a veneer.. do what ever works.  Try to make sure the maples are good grain.  This will make a snappier bow and probably longer lasting as well.

But the glass is really doing a lot of the work.. so you could put just about anything in between them and still have a usable bow.

[Mckenzie]

Thanks for the response.  What do you mean to have "all the grains run along the length"?  Should I be seeing the vertical grain lines along the belly and back of the bow, or should the more contoured lines of a flat/plainsawn board show?  Unfortunately, some of the maple I have is quartersawn to prevent cupping because I was going to use it for cabinet door rails and stiles.  However, it may not be the best for archery limbs.  Thanks again . . . M

[Bradford]

Well, when I build all wood bows.. I make sure the grain is straight as possible running along the length. Now, with fiberglass... there is no worry of the wood splintering under the glass.. so I would not worry to much about your grain.  

Here is a pic of the Walnut I am using.  As you can see, the grain will be all over the place, but I wont worry to much.. it will be under clear glass and I am only making this bow around 35lbs.

 

If I was going for just PURE performance, I would get wood that the grain is completely vertical.. or parallel with the length of the limb.

If you where building an all wood bow.. it would really matter.. but using fiberglass, you will really be just fine.

[Mckenzie]

Great - Thanks.  I appreciate your help.  Mark

[bvarcher]

Hey Bradford, that's some good looking wood.  Can you find that locally or do you mail order?  I live 15 miles or so down the hill from you and would like to find a local supplier.  -Steve

[Bradford]

I got the walnut at California Hardwoods in Auburn.. sounds like your neck of the woods!

They don't have a lot of exotic, but great domestic woods.

I go to Woodcraft in Sacramento or mail order for the African stuff.

We should meet up sometime!  Would love to make a new wood working buddy!