Hickory Lams??

[Hatrick]

I have some left over hickory flooring from a home project I'm doing and was thinking about grinding some of the longer pieces into laminations for a couple of glass backed ASL and D/R longbows.

What's your experience with hickory for laminations?

[Krasus]

Love it!  I use hickery for most of my lams except if I'm doing something fancy that I want under clear glass.  I have never had a problem.  

[JamesV]

Hickory makes a fine laminated glass bow. Only problem I ever had using hickory lams was moisture. I didn't check the moisture before glue up on one bow and the limbs cupped in the oven. The bow still shot good but the more they cupped the higher the poundage went.

[Hatrick]

Thanks guys, good to know. I'll grind some down this winter and try it in a couple of bows. Appreciate the feedback.

Anyone else use hickory for lams?

[jhk1]

I believe Kegan McCabe (Omega Longbows) uses hickory as his regular limb core material.  I know of several other bowyers that offer it as a limb core option as well.  I spoke with one bowyer recently (forget which one) that said he thought it gave a little extra speed in his bows that he built with it.

[Crooked Stic]

A little bit stiffer. Will add some speed. Maybe on the tension side is better.

[eflanders]

I love to use hickory lams in my all-wood bows!  I realize that you are making glass bows, but it is a great wood for making both.