is it necessary to use a laminated riser in a one piece R/D longbow or can the riser be made from just one piece of wood
I would think it depends on the bow design and the type of wood used.
I have seen more solid lam-wood risers (actionwood, spectraply etc) than anything else.
I have never built a bow.
Really looking forward to hearing the words from the wise.
Absolutely you can make the riser from 1 piece of wood.
I think the reason most people don't is because the riser is a source of creativity and laminating a riser lets you add different colors and designs to the bow.
So is a laminated riser a stronger riser than one made from one piece of wood?
As a general rule, yes. When you laminate multiple pieces of wood, the glue joints can be stronger than the wood itself. The grain on each lamination is also reinforced by the lamination behind it, so the two can be stronger than a single piece of wood.