Wood cores for bamboo backing.

[Chris Grimbowyer]

Hello, I recently purchased some bamboo backing strips because the price was right, however the website was out of osage for the belly to make the bow I wanted to. The only places that sell quarter sawn osage for belly lams seem to be $54-$55 a piece plus shipping.  I contracted a local hardwood dealer and asked for white oak and some hard maple boards, he did not have any elm. How will these woods hold up with bamboo? Would one be a better match than the other? I was considering trapping because from research it seems the boo could overpower the white oak or maple. Also, if you happen to know a good place to order quarter sawn osage belly lams, please let me know.

[Pat B]

To me, the woods you mentioned are not appropriate for boo backing. I know folks have used them with success but I think other compression strong options like osage or ipe are more appropriate. Check out your local lumber yard to see if they carry ipe(used for flooring or decking) or try a flooring or decking specialty shop. Other woods that are strong in compression should work too.

[LittleBen]

I'm with pat on this one. Maple and white oak are only marginal in compression strength, and although it CAN work, I think it's a waste of bamboo frankly, bamboo is not free after all.

I'd go for Ipe first, if not Osage, if not:
bulletwood (massaranduba), cumaru (brazilian teak), jatoba(brazilian cherry), bubinga, etc etc. Alot of the tropical woods are stronger than maple or white oak in compression. Ipe, Osage and Massaranduba would be my top 3.

If you already bought the oak use it for backing strips ... if you bought the maple use it for cores in a tri lam between a backing strip and a belly lam.

If you're looking for osage for belly lams, Kenny M (sponser on here) may be able to help.

Also, Troy Breeding (sponsor on here)was selling black locust boards for backing recently for a fair price (not the best for compression strength but I think should be better than maple or white oak)

Lastly, Tenbrook (sponsor on here)sells ipe boards for bamboo backing.

[Chris Grimbowyer]

I had my local 84 lumber specialty order some maple, he contacted his Ipe dealer and said they had replaced it with some tigerdecking, I can't recall if that's exactly what he said, but I believe it was tiger decking. I hadn't heard of it so I said no. I will see if I can get my hands on the Ipe, perhaps if I did a maple backed cherry belly, or white oak back cherry belly? would those be nice shooters? I have heard wonders about cherry, but I cannot use boo because it would overpower it easily.

[Chris Grimbowyer]

Also, I found a much better place to get wood other than 84 after the fact. Zeyers lumber, it is ran by Doug zeyer in pickerington Ohio, but he cuts the wood right around me in the Saint clairsville area. When he brings me the Maple, and oak, I'll ask for Osage, cherry, and hophornbeam. I Love that hophornbeam.

[Bowjunkie]

I made a bamboo backed hophornbeam and I was impressed with it. I plan to use it again.