Has anyone ever used red oak for a core of a laminated bow? I was thinking about doing this because of the availability of red oak but i was thinking the glass might overpower the red oak. Whaddya' think?

Should be fine with glass on either side.  Wouldn't be my first choice though.  Hickory is readily available at most any lumberyard, and make a really fine core wood.

how bout maple? I have a really beautiful piece of hard rock maple with straight grain, no knots and all that. Think its worth a 'shot'?

Hard rock maple is a good choice. I have used it several times. Under black glass your only going to see the edge anyway. Are you making a long bow or a recurve?

good luck

mike

Hard rock maple is one of the best!  Lot's of limbs, including compound bows, been made from it through the years.

I used oak, white, not red, on a lam bow.   Really lovely under glass, but so slow I named the bow "Slowpoke".   Still fun to shoot, but hickory or maple are better choices.    Actually, if you want a pretty, easy to work wood, I recently did a glassed cherry bow.   very pretty and shoots very well.

Well i haven't really sorted out the whole 'hot box' deal and all that other equipment necessary to make a laminated bow.. (and the fear of 'bubbles' under the glass.. Yikes!) So i decided to get a little more experience working with a more basic stickbow.

I'm hoping to have this one come out at 55# or 60# and it'll be a linen backed maple stickbow with a red oak and maple riser and red oak nock overlays..

One problem though..

I don't think the maple is rock hard maple.. looks to be a different type.    

I bought the piece from my local Menards.. does anyone know if this maple is actualy maple? Or whether its some sneaky 'soft wood'?  

I am thinking about my next bow being a cherry lam longbow.. thanks for the idea Dick!

How about Walnut?  It's available and should make a really good core.  Can be pretty as well.

QuoteOriginally posted by Bald Spot:
How about Walnut?  It's available and should make a really good core.  Can be pretty as well.

without a doubt... walnut cores on a glass bow are excellent. maple is excellent too, but heavier in mass. using oak is like putting lead lining in your tennis shoes.

DD,
Where in Ohio are you?  I ask because I have the hot box and am in the process of rearranging my garage to allow a better wood shop space to be utlilized.  I'm in SW Ohio