I found 2 red oak strips 1/4 inch thinck by 1 inch wide and 72 long cheap. Wondering if I glued them together in a deflex reflex style are two boards the same size going to end up breaking? When i tiller them wouth the belly board end up weaker or does it matter since the glued joint is supposed to be stronger... Just wondering. I was just going to use them for extra riser and nock overlays but just got the thought? Thanks for any help. I want to make 2 kids bows by xmas.

I've never tried it, but I would say.if the grain is good on them then it wouldn't be a problem.

It should work but if they are sisters or have similar grain I would flip them so the grains work against each other instead of together. I think I'd also use a simple backing like brown grocery bag paper, linen or silk.

I've seen a build on another site (don't remember) where a guy glues up quick kid's bows out of what you're talking about.  Should work fine.

You,didn't say the boys sizes and the weight off bows needed.
It would be better if the slats were,just a little wider. Would make for a better pyramid style profile.
The more pyramid taper the less tillering, that is removing the belly wood.
I've made a lot of kids bows with just one 1/4 inch slat I think the two glued in a,R/D should be good.

Thank you all for the info. I actually bought them to make a single board bow for the younger boy, he is 9 but scrawny and would need more of a "toy" very light bow. The other is 13 now and This is the boy I was thinking about making the two boards laminated together for. He can draw a 40lb @ 28 inches recurve to about 24 inches (I'm guessing that is about 28 lbs?) So target weight for him would be 20 - 25. I did buy two 1x2 boards as well that have fantastic grain even though I was looking for wider boards.

However, I would be interested in trying it for myself witha 45# target, maybe I'll look for wider baords like you said thanks

For a little heavier bow maybe a 1/8 inch hickory backing would work.
Your 9 year old 15 pounds at 24 inches is about what my grandsons like to shoot at that size and age. They might draw 16 inches.
A hickory back on the 1/4 inch oak would work well there.

I've done it once.  It had horrible set with an adult weight bow.  I glued in 2" of reflex and it still followed the string by over 2".  I converted it to a kid's bow and gave it away.  This was a single sample so results aren't representative.  Red oak isn't strong in compression at all.  Wide and long, and around 40# would be my goal if I were to do it again.

Thanks guys!

Hi..been away a while.  I used 1/4 maple and a 1/4 thick red oak as the belly for a bow a bit ago.  I ended up using some fiberglass fabric for a backing.  It worked well enough.  It was a dead flat bow.  I used a very light handle and the hand shock is pretty noticeable, but it flings arrows pretty good, and is holding up well.  The fiberglass fabric backing didn't add anything to the draw and is very tough.  

GA

I actually glued up the boards with some reflex/ deflex. It was way to strong at 4 ft. Started removing some wood and the limbs are basically strait now. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Twospots

Where did you find the 72" boards?  Can only get them in 48" in my neighborhood.

Monterey,
Lowes - looked like someone asked them to cut some boards and then left them in the store so they put them with the red oak boards instead of the trim section. They were actually rounded (router mayve) on one corner, but i rounded them all eventually anyway.
Might try looking at Lowes or HD at the trim section I did see similar boards at HD that were much longer than 72 inches. like for a baseboard etc...

Oh, and they were 1.5 inches wide guys, sorry I said 1 before. I have 2 kids bows 3/4 finished from those boards and they are looking good so far, just saw another post on here about kids bows that is basically the same thing. If I get a way to post pics I will. I dont have photo bucket, and some reason was unable to use it. So ill have to try something else. But they look cool and seem to work fine. I plan to back them although they might not really need it.
Just finished a board bow for a 12 yo girl from a 1x2 red oak. ended up 25 lb at 23 inches, 30 at 26 inches. Hoping that is not too strong for her... But its purple. Only bows I have been successful on so far are both purple. Yay... So the kids bows are gonna be some kinda manly color... And then I'll get to my forst bow for me - after xmas but well before spring turkey season.