Introduction and Question

[brianvanh]

Hi everyone.  I'm a new member here though I've been lurking for a while.  Looking forward to participating and learning a lot.

I just recently finished my first bow.  It's a paper backed red oak board bow that I built for my daughter.  Riser is 3 poplar lams (easy to shape) and tips were overlayed with maple.  I also added some pink thread under the tips to give it a girly feel.  It's 48" long with a draw weight at 23 pounds at 17".  I broke 4 bows before I learned enough to get this one done.  I wanted to start with a bow for my daughter because I knew I'd break a few.  It's a lot less work to rebuild a small bow than something bigger.  Plus, I didn't want to get discouraged by breaking a bow that I was attached to.    

It's my daughter's first bow and we've shot it every night now for a week since I gave it to her.  She loves it!  Nothing better than watching your daughter enjoying something you made for her.  I hope she cherishes it forever.  Here are a few pics of the bow before I added a string and grip.

   

   

   

And one of the few bullseyes that she's gotten so far.  

     

Not bad for a 7 year old on her 3rd day shooting.

Now I'm moving on to a bow for me.  Here's where my questions come in to play.

I like the idea of my first bow being made of some real American hardwoods.  I have a sweet piece of cherry that is quartersawn.  The grain is just darn near perfect.  My thought was to use the cherry for the bow and some nice dark walnut for the riser and tips.  I also have some black and clear fiberglass that I want to back it with (though I haven't decided which I want to use yet).  I may also embellish it by adding some cherry laminates into the riser.

That said, I've heard some people talk about how cherry isn't the best choice so I'm toying with going to white ash instead.  What do you guys think is better?  I think that if I back it with glass, the cherry will probably hold up well, but I'd like to hear your opinions as well.

Thanks for the great forum.  I'm happy to be a part of it.

Brian

[red hill]

Good start, Brian! The riser is really nice. You are right to be proud of that young lady! Yes, sir!
For you question. It is my understanding from reading numerous posts, and a few books, the fiber glass will over power the stave, or board.
The belly of the maple may be in danger of fretting because the fg can withstand more stress.
I'm sure other more experienced bowyers will chip in. Just what I've understood so far.
I love your daughter's bow. Good job.
Stan

[JamesV]

Brian........

Very nice looking bow you built your daughter, congrads.......

I use a lot of glass to back wood bows and I think the cherry will do just fine. If you had a way to pre-taper the core to .007 per inch it would save you a lot of working with tillering. Maybe think about putting in a little reflex at glue-up.

James

[brianvanh]

Thanks for the comments.

I was planning on starting with a solid piece of cherry...not lams.  I'd rough out the limbs on the bandsaw and then shape by hand.  I'd laminate the riser, glue that on and then back it with glass.  Does that make sense?

I have built a reflex/deflex jig and I also built a tapering jig with my planer, but I haven't used either yet.  For right now, I like the idea of using a solid piece of cherry rather than lams.  Mainly because of my lack of experience and because I enjoy the hand work of using a rasp.

So, if I use a solid piece of cherry, shape it down and then add glass, will the cherry hold up?

[wood carver 2]

Great first bow Brian. Welcome to the addiction.    
Dave.

[mwosborn]

Beautiful bow and daughter - I am sure she will cherish the bow and shooting sessions for a long time!  Good luck on your next one - can't help with the questions - have never used glass.

[kentowl]

Great starter bow, brian, and a great start for your young shooter.

I haven't used glass (so far, who knows in the future) but have backed black cherry bellies with hickory and sycamore. Both of those are strong enough to make chrysals in the cherry unless thinned way down. Since glass won't stretch as wood will, the neutral line between your layers will be close to the glass. Then, as I understand it, the thicker you make the belly the more likely it will be to crush the surface fibers, since the cherry will be more compressed there. You'd want a very wide, flat belly for maximum compression resistance.

If you want to make a wood bow, why not go for it and make it of wood? Or make a glass laminate sandwich as so many composite bow makers do? Just one man's opinion - best of luck.

[brianvanh]

Good idea...It could look great with a hickory back and riser with cherry limbs.  Maybe I'll do that instead.

How thick should a hickory backer board be? 1/8"?  Less?  If I back it with hickory, you're saying that the belly wouldn't need to be as wide as it would be with glass?

[Osagetree]

Such a cutie!

And some good input above from others.