I'm building a few bamboo backed bows and have been using osgae on the belly. My question is can you use any type of lam on the belly?? I mean when i lay up my bows i'm using natural bamboo backing, actionboo core, then osgae on the belly. Could i use like zebrawood or walnut or something instead of the osage if i use the same layup or is there an advantage of using osage?? Thanks

Adam

Adam, you want to use only compression strong woods for belly lams. Many of the tropicals I think are appropriate. Black walnut would be less appropriate but will work. Ipe works very well as a belly lam.   Pat

What Pat says.  I don't think walnut would hold up though.

Does anyone know where i can get a list of bow woods with high compression??

There is a USDA website for wood characteristics but I don't know about the tropicals.

I used Yew, hickory, and osage but I seen purple heart and yellow heart used.

I would add to ipe...  Black locust (but it is a little touchy), goncalo alves, bulletwood, guyabano, ipe verde, kingwood, pau ferro, and a bunch more.  They all act a little different, but the basics are the same.

Zebrawood, beli, , etc.. are great woods, but not as strong as osage or ipe, more like hickory or oak in weight, probably needs a wider limb.

 Most woods that have good strength and weight will do ok, but some are brittle.  

The USDA website has info on tropical woods.  Google "Center for Wood Anatomy Research"