Wondering if using soft maple for glass bow lams is OK.
I've only used hard maple , and don't want to build a heartache.

There are quite a few various maples of varying hardness.  Do you know which one you are considering?

I would not consider soft maple, especially if you have other options.

Since 88% of the strength of a wood-glass composite bow comes from the GLASS, the kind of WOOD in between really isn't all that important.  I wouldn't use Balsa or Aspen, but I've used pine, fir, aromatic red cedar and other softer wood with no appreciable difference between those and bows of the same design with fancy, expensive wood.

I wouldn't , but that's just me. I've used red cedar and such for veneers but not for all the core. Some do tho I believe.

But like Pat said, why do it if you have something better available?

Ok I hear what your saying men.

Do any of you know if the maple in Lowe's/Home Depot is hard or soft?  I have bought a few pieces and it seems like hard to me but I have no grounds for comparison.

It's labeled Acer Sachareum (spelling alert).  If it's labeled accurately, then that would be sugar maple or hard maple.  The stuff I have worked seemed pretty hard.

Thanks for that.

RE: KenH

did you really try with pine? is there any result, broken limps, power, picture according to this...

best.

In the interest of sharing information I thought some might find this usefull.

http://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/differences-between-hard-maple-and-soft-maple/

From what I can tell the maple my Home Depot is carrying is either Red Maple or Hard Maple. I don't want to get ahead of myself but I believe it is actually hard maple.