what core wood for my Hill style limbs?

[Tajue17]

Hello all,  I have a Hill style longbow on order and I'm starting to second guess my first choice of lam material which was 4-lams of bamboo under one lam of Yew.   after reading some stuff here about most folks like Elm or maple for limb laminations and my current longbow has straight grain elm for limbs I'm wondering if I should try something different than bamboo.

I was thinking go with Elm and one lam of Yew over that, or all Yew lams or even all elm lams with the outer being flat grain,, I can pretty much do anything I want but I'm curious what people here would recommend,, the bow is a 66" JD Berry Morningstar reverse handle hill style with backset only and I'm drawing 27" and the string will be Fast flight.

[Rob DiStefano]

it's all good, pick whatever wood/grass makes ya happy.  i typically find that bamboo has an edge on smoothness, but it ain't all that critical.

[JRY309]

I think the choice you have now is an excellent choice.I like bamboo in a deeper core longbow like a Hill style.I really like the look of yew.My Hill Half Breed has bamboo and yew,one of my favorite bows.

[ron w]

I would stay the course with your original order...

[hunthold]

I would go with the boo and yew for sure!

[Bob at Work]

boo and yew or all yew... my favorites.

[Bob B.]

Your original thought is a classic combo hat has been and still is a favorite for many longbow shooters.   I have that combo and can personally say it is not only beautiful, but very smooth and quick a well.

Good luck,

Bob.

[mikebiz]

I think you're good with the bamboo and yew back.  The only thing I would consider is going with fewer laminations.  Five is a lot.  I would go with two boo and one yew or three boo and one yew.  You should talk to JD about it.  The more laminations you use the more glue need.  That may cause a stiffer limb and take away some of the smoothness of the bamboo and yew.  I think bamboo and yew are almost in a dead heat for smoothness by the way, with yew being just a tad smoother in my opinion.  

What draw weight are you thinking about.  Maybe that requires more laminations.  I'm not a bowyer, so definitely talk to JD.  Good luck.  It's gonna be a nice bow for sure.

[Tajue17]

sounds great everyone thanks for easing my mind alot, I will leave it as it was with 1 lam of Yew over the bamboo. you all know about this wait thing and that mind racing stuff repeating over and over--->  I should of done this or should of done that..

Mike good catch and my mistake I think I was thinking of an old wesley I had but  I'm pretty sure he will do 3 lams of boo and 1 lam of yew..  we never talked about it but based on what I see with other Berry bows it should be 4-lams total...  

the target weight is 50@27

[awbowman]

You will be fine, don't  let your mind run away with doubt.  You have a great bowyer.  He builds a great bow.  Trad bows are not about super optimization anyway,  they are about smooth and quiet.

I went through the same thing as you, and all wasted worry.  Good luck

[nineworlds9]

What they said.  Yew, boo, its all good.  Boo has a little more snap to it IMHO.  Curly or rock maple is a nice alternate core.  Or for something different you could do boo and walnut.  But really if you have YEW on the brain, you need at least some  

[RC]

I`ve never shot a bow of "Yew". I always have loved Bamboo. A couple of my favorite bows were boo cores with Red elm and boo cores with zebra wood. Of course I love a HH Cheetah with the boo and juniper had two of those.I would like to shoot an all Yew bow sometime.I think you will enjoy your new bow for sure.RC

[RC]

Forgot to add one of my favorite homemade bows was made from hard rock maple and shot very good. RC

[Gordon Jabben]

I have a Hill style bow with boo as the core.  I am getting small cracks in the boo under the glass on the back of the bow.  The cracks are causing the finish to flake off the side of the bow.  Has anyone else had this happen?  I think I will go with elm or maple next time.

[Mike Mongelli]

Three lams of bamboo or three lams of yew, colored glass, no overlays.

[Overspined]

Worry about shooting it, not what's in it!  All of those combos are fine.

[Shinken]

All 'boo for me....

Keep the wind in your face!

Shoot straight, Shinken

   

[cahaba]

My HH Halfbreed has bamboo and yew. It's the best shooting longbow I have.

[Centex]

Green's Half Breed is super smooth.

[Kris]

Love bamboo...I hardly get sick of it but certainly understand you pondering the matter,  been there done that.  Agree with Rob, it won't make much difference in end but only what you like!

Best of luck!

Kris