I was just curious if anyone has ever used pecan and bamboo and if so how does it work?
It is related to hickory so I don't see why not.
I've made a pecan selfbow but never a backed one.
I don't think bamboo is the right choice for hickory, but I haven't many years of experience. Just a month or so.
My logic is thus:
If hickory (pecan) is often used as a snappy backing strip that can overpower some belly woods, why back a hickory bow with something that may be slightly less powerful?
Definitely need an older bowyer's experience on this one though.
Both hickory and pecan are good with boo. I wish I could post a pic of the pile of trimmings my buddy has in his backyard from pecan grove prunings.....10,000 staves and billets....Crazy. I'm gonna grab a few choice pieces to make some self bows with and maybe a boo backed takedown...
thanks guys for the input and info.I'm no Boyer wish i was i'm gonna try it as soon as i learn enough.I was just wondering because never hear anyone talk about it.Thanks again all.Eric
Eric, I have to agree with Desert Fox on this one. I'm sure there are folks out there that have successfully made boo backed hickory(and/or pecan) but in my opinion hickory(or pecan) is not a good candidate for a boo backing. It is relatively weak in compression thus making it not suitable for belly wood and especially for a very strong backing wood(grass)like bamboo.IMO If you have a pecan stave with a good, solid back ring there is no reason to back it with anything.
If you want to back a pecan belly use hard maple, elm or ash. Even a hickory backed pecan will work well.
I have seen boo backed hickory bow blanks for sale and the only reason I see for such a blank is that hickory boards are readily available and relativly cheap to purchase. I ofter wonder how many folks have been disappointed and discouraged by boo backed hickory glue up they have attempted to make. In my mind it is a disservice to the beginner to sell them a boo backed hickory blank. You would be better off with a pecan or hickory board as an unbacked self bow or by adding a simple backing of paper, silk or linen.
Tim Baker made a nice little Boo backed hickory bow,re-flexed(if I remember correctly) approximately 3". It was about 58" and was 47lbs.I remember it pretty well;because I tried to talk him out of it. It shot a 500gr. arrow through the chronograph the same speed as my 58",58lb.pecan self bow(158fps). It was also very low in hand shock. Long story made short,boo backing worked very well on hickory and I think would work equally well on pecan.
i made a boo backed hickory and didn't have any issues. Just get you boo nice and thin i think they say about an 1/8th of an inch thick. I also made hickory backed hickory bow. Which may be better for the hickory bow because the boo can over power the hickory. Anyway hickory strips are probably cheaper and easier to make yourself.