1) Can the sap wood be used on the back?
2) Is it a candidate for ELB if sinew backed?
Thanks for any help/suggestions.
The sapwood can be used. I have seen all sapwood ELB style ERC bows that shot very well.
ERC is a candidate for an ELB without a sinew backing. I think sinew would be the wrong backing for an ELB. Rawhide or hickory would be a better choice. IMO
Thank you Pat. Having never used this wood my thoughts were it would act like low-alt. yew or wide ringed yew. I am told its compression is good, tension is questionable or so I am told. Anyhow I have the sinew or I may go rawhide but thank you so much for your input.
ERC and sinew would be a great combo it the bow is short enough to get the full effects of the sinew. I have an ERC bow blank that is 49" long and half sapwood/ half heartwood that I plan to sinew back.
I think a backing is warrented with almost any ERC bow because it's tension strength isn't all that good. I do think the sapwood has better tension charactoristics than the heartwood.