Board bow..Hickory or Red oak with hickory back?

[Zradix]

Hi,

Thinking of making a board bow.
I'd like to make a backed bow so I can get some reflex during glue up.

From what I understand, hickory is the way to go for the backing for  an "easy" backing..not concave bamboo for instance.
...if I'm off on a backing choice please let me know..

Anyway,  What would make a better hickory backed board bow..Red oak or hickory?
if you have time, I'd love to hear the "why" as well.

Thank you very much!        

John

[John Scifres]

Red oak is OK but hickory is much better in my opinion.  I have made a couple backed red oak bows and they were underperformers.

[Grandpa Bill]

I would go for the hickory backed hickory.  Red Oak is good in tension, not as good in compression.  It makes a great bow, but you might overpower the belly of an oak bow with a hickory backing.  

Grandpa Bill

[red hill]

I agree with the hickory suggestions. I've made a few red oak board bows and I think you'll be happier with hickory.

[Echatham]

I haven't made either yet, but i did a build along lately with bamboo, and i was concerned at first that bamboo would be difficult to work with considering my limited tools.... but it really was easy.  
something else to throw out there for ya is maple... might make a good board bow? haven't done it, but i might one day...

[Zradix]

Thank you for the input guys.

I thought about maple too Eric.
But this being my first bow ever..well ..(I don't count sticks as a kid or shooting a carbon arrow with a carbon arrow bow..( works pretty darn good actually..lol))

anyway, being the first one I wanted to stick with "tried and true" wood...I'll need all the help I can get, don't need to make it harder.

But who knows, maybe maple is the king...I really don't know.

[LittleBen]

Go with the hickory over the oak or the maple.
If you have a table or bandsaw you can buy some flat sawn 8/4 hickory and rip some quartersawn backing strips off the side of the board and then cut the remaining board into 2 or 3 strips 5/8"-1" thick. Get a few blanks glued up for not alot of money ... prolly no more than $15-20.


FWIW white oak makes a good backing too, sometimes easier to find in the lumber yard as quartersawn. But again not as good for the belly side just like red oak.

Maple is ok but not the best.

[Zradix]

I'll be going to the lumberyard tonight to look for wood.

Thinking hickory backed hickory.
Wish me luck in them having some decent boards...  

[Zradix]

WELL NUTS!
When to the only place in 4 counties around me that sell hickory...no luck on a single good board...