Potential Tri Lam Build

[LaBill67]

I'm seeking advice from you experienced boyers.  I have available to me in my shop hard maple, cherry, mahogany, purple heart, and walnut. I'll be getting some IPE next month but would like to try to build a tri lam with what I have in the meantime.  How does this combination sound? Cherry back, PH core, with a walnut belly. Or with what I have is there any other better combination?

[Bowjunkie]

Cherry is poor in tension resistance, relatively speaking. Of your options, I'd try hard maple/cherry/hard maple.

Osage or ipe on the belly would be the ticket.

[LaBill67]

I will be picking up some IPE hopefully next month so I may just hold off on the tri lam until then and go with your recommendation, HM,Ch,Ipe.

[stickmonkey]

Labill how far are you from west monroe? If you close I can help ya. I have built a few bbi and bbo's.

[passion for knowledge]

I was going to suggest holding off until you got the ipe.

I have made 3 bows with ipe belly and have number 4 on the go.

It can make for a very light weight bow with decent draw weight.

Go carefully with the ipe, it makes nasty little splinters.

[LittleBen]

Originally posted by passion for knowledge:

Go carefully with the ipe, it makes nasty little splinters.

Hell hath no fury like a good Ipe splinter

[ty_in_ND]

Originally posted by LittleBen:

Hell hath no fury like a good Ipe splinter

Also be certain to work in a well ventilated area with a dust mask and covered arms and legs.  Ipe dust is NASTY stuff.

[Roy from Pa]

Yup IPE can be nasty...

Use 1/4 sawn maple for the backing. Make it 1/8th thick and select a piece with very little run outs on the edges.