Cherry wood ...

[Pluck Yew]

Hey, A cabnet maker friend of mine gave me some cherry and oak boards cherry is 70" and some 63" oak same..got about 4 0f each..does cherry make good bow wood and what should I back it with? I was thinking maybe I could back cherry with oak and oak with cherry.. in a perfect world..have I had to many home brews??        

Shawn...

[**DONOTDELETE**]

hickory would be better for backing, So would bamboo.

[Pat B]

Actually maple or elm might be your best option for backing cherry. Neither are as strong in tension as hickory and not even close to boo so, especially for a new bowyer, maple or elm would be my pick. White oak might also be fine for backing cherry.
   A simple cloth backing will help hold a cherry bow together if that is what you are looking for.       Pat

[Pluck Yew]

Thanks, fellas..my friend has several maple boards he offered me..they are trim boards that are 8'x6"x1"..he needs 1 1/4"ripped off them then I can pick up the left over 4 3/4"... I,m lucky to have this wood and will experiment with it but would hate to screw it up..advice is welcome and appreiated...  

Shawn...

[troutremble]

You will need to back the cherry but it makes a very nice bow. I have made several backed with rawhide and they are good shooters.

[Springbuck]

Remember that, concerning backings, you need to be even fussier with grain selection than you would selecting a board bow.

  A fairly long semi-pyramid bow in cherry can be a fast, sweet shooter.

  Red oak has made me a bunch of functional bows, and also likes a pyramid limb, or a kinda wide parallel limb that tapers quickly from about mid-limb.

  linen or burlap makes a good backing for either, but keep the backing thin on the cherry..

[Crimson mist]

Remember that a wood backing needs to be quartersawn so that the grain is straight and parallel with no run offs  white oak make a great backing but shouldn't be more than 3/16" thick for cherry. I agree with Springbuck on a material backing. I've been using canvas from drop clothes which is a cheap source for material for cherry which I use a lot for making bows and if well made they seem to take less set that many domestic woods

[shamus]

black cherry is great in compression for its mass, but weak in tension. I'd back it with rawhide.

[Pluck Yew]

Hey,thanks haven't used the cherry yet..and the maple wasn't what I expected but will make arrow boxes out of it any way..started a oak paddle bow, but so far it is hidious...(sp)..I may post pic,s of it at a later date..need to make bbh next then cherry...sorry soo long of story...

Shawn...   :rolleyes: