Longbow bowyers opinion solicited...

[J. Holden]

Hello to all the bowyers, I'm on the waiting list for a longbow.  I'll have the option of 4-6 laminations of the following material: Bamboo, Locust, Osage, Maple, Elm or Black Walnut.  I have two questions that I'm looking for some advice on.

1) Does the number of laminations effect performance?  If so less is more?

2) Does the lamination material effect performance?

Let me know if you need more information.  Thanks!

-Jeremy

[Mad Max]

More lam. is More
Boo and elm, using two color would be better looking with more lams.
So you kind of answered your own question.

[Crooked Stic]

More lams equal less spring back out of the form. adds some performance (prolly need a chrono to see it though)
If you use colored glass edge grain maple or actionboo.
If you are going with veneers again the maple or boo cores.

[Flem]

Longbow is a broad term. What style exactly are you talking about?

[J. Holden]

Longbow is a broad term. What style exactly are you talking about?

I'm on the waiting list for a Heritage longbow from JD Berry.  I appreciate the opinions.  I wasn't too concerned with aesthetics but more so performance.  I'm wanting this to be a bow that will serve me well for many years to come.

-Jeremy

[Flem]

Cool sounding bow Thats a lot of laminations. I'd go with 4 bamboo.

[Stagmitis]

Im with Flem. The other laminations with the exception of walnut will add lots of weight to the limb and so will the extra glue for a 5th lam.

[bucknut]

I had Mr Berry build me a Morningstar this year and it has 5 Yew lams that are Beautiful and performs quite nice.

[Roy from Pa]

Yew is a light elastic wood that makes for a snappy bow.

[kennym]

I bet JD knows more bout his bows than I do ... I’m bettin it will be a great bow!

[Crooked Stic]

I am with Roy on the Yew. Edge grain for core and nice flat grain for veneers.

[JDBerry]

Thank you Kenny.  Best of luck with going Pro. I think you will do fine, your not the "Know it all" kind of guy..To me, that means Trust.   ..OE

[kennym]

Well, thank you JD!

I'm not sure about the pro part tho, just not doing construction anymore. 

[Roy from Pa]

Professional Bull S'er more like it:)

 

[kennym]