Could yew veneers have a slight performance benefit?

[Ruttinghard]

I know that veneers are almost paper thin, and I’ve always been told they’re purely aesthetic. But I have had 4 bows from the same bowyer (all awesome bows). The one with the yew veneers is quieter and deader in the hand than the other 3. I know the glass and bamboo cores are where your performance comes from. But is it just coincidence that the one I have with yew veneers (a traditional longbow limb wood) vs woods not traditionally used in limbs, is the quieter one? I’m guessing coincidence, but open to insight! Thank you!

[Terry Green]

Don't think you could shoot the difference. 

[Ruttinghard]

Agreed. But this was more about the sound. It’s “softer”. Just curious if there’s anything to it regarding the veneers.

[The Whittler]

I would say it's all about bow design, weight of the arrows, and how you shoot. The veneer is just window dressing.

[Terry Green]

I would say it's all about bow design, weight of the arrows, and how you shoot. The veneer is just window dressing.

Yep.

[McDave]

I would say it's all about bow design, weight of the arrows, and how you shoot. The veneer is just window dressing.

Yep.

I think that Dan Toelke would disagree with this statement in principle, if not specifically with regard to yew veneers.

Once when I was having him make a bow for me, I asked him the same question: whether veneers are solely cosmetic.  He replied that veneers make a difference in performance, and recommended that if I wanted top performance, I would get myrtle veneers on the bow.  I followed his advice, and that bow, a Toelke Lynx, is still my favorite longbow.  I'm not saying that I’m personally good enough to tell the difference, but I think Dan is.

[Orion]

There are veneers, and then there are "veneers".  True veneers are paper thin as you mentioned, and don't affect performance. Well, the additional glue required might stiffen the limb, but the additional weight of the glue might also detract from performance. However, some folks call the first lamination under the glass on either side of the limb veneers, regardless of their thickness.  So, if the"veneers" are really just two more laminations, then yes, they will affect the bow's performance, etc.

[McDave]

In this photo, you can see the thickness of the top, darker layer, over a lighter colored lamination below. The top layer is the myrtle that Dan said would increase performance over some other veneers. Pretty thin!

[McDave]

Here’s another shot that might show the relative thickness of the top and bottom layers of myrtle a little better.

[kennym]

Possibly, but I'm guessing you would need a chrony , a shooting machine, and a half dozen bows of each veneer tested for an average to be sure.

[Terry Green]

   So, if the"veneers" are really just two more laminations, then yes, they will affect the bow's performance, etc.

Does that pertain to only yew?

[Crooked Stic]

Veneers generally run .030 frt. and belly so.060 and a lighter wood (less mass weight) so the lighter wood veneers gonna be quicker. But your eyeballaint gonna see it.

[Buggs]

Agreed. But this was more about the sound. It’s “softer”. Just curious if there’s anything to it regarding the veneers.

The Yew veneers could certainly provide some dampening effect. Vibration damping membrane used for some sports equip. is only .008" thick. I would guess the Yew is thicker than that and denser.

[Ruttinghard]

Thanks everyone! How do think oak veneers would do? Assuming very thin and not a from a particularly heavy piece of oak.

[Buggs]

You will probably need to go to the wood database website and compare the physical properties of various woods, to be able draw any conclusions.