Question for the experts i am looking to start making my own laminations and my question is will an oak board from lowes be ok for core wood Lams, i only build glass bows hybrids and recurves. I never planned on making my own laminations but when i got into bow building i thought i would build one bow also but that didn't happen   :D   .  So since I can't stop building i figure i may as well make my own laminations as well.  I have searched everywhere and can't find anything on it.

There's no reason you can't use oak.

Oak will make a really good shooting glass bow. I have experimented with dozes of different woods to build glass bows with good success. I would stay away from cypress in a high performance bow, especially a re-curve. One of the very best shooting bows I have build, used yellow pine for the core.

Where are you located in MS?

James

East central Mississippi neshoba county i never would've figured yellow pine would be good in a bow

Edge grain.

James, what kind of pine did you used?  The Regular stuff sold in lumber yards (the one that comes from Finland)?

The pine I used came from Lowe's. I re-floored my 16" trailer and had several pieces if clear straight edge grain scrap left.

James

Peanut.............

Check out "Nanner popsicle......stick bow" I just posted for more info on usable core wood for a glass bow

James

James V that is neat, one question i have is what does edge grain do in for the bow when using glass and why not flat grain?

I have used Oak in various bows.  It makes for a strong bow, just have to tiller it well.

For veneers you will want to use flat grain because that is the way most woods show their beauty. For core wood edge grain is best because the bend will more consistant than the grain lay flat and maybe having run out. Probably not as important in a longbow as is would be in a recurve.