So if epoxy doesn't work, how do I glass a bow?

[fish n chicks]

I found a beautiful piece of cherry I'd like to use for a bow, but had concerns that some of the growth rings may seperate, so I thought of finishing the back with epoxy? If there is something better, or more appropriate, i'd be glad to give it a try. I just want a flexible, clear finish to the back. I've never "glassed" a bow. Not even sure where i'd start.

[Pat B]

A thin epoxy layer is a good finish but not a good backing. Thin silk could be almost transparent. Fiberglass backing would probably overpower the cherry if used as a backing.

[Johan van Niekerk]

Epoxy on its own probably helps a bit but I've had more than one bow "pop a splinter" of the back despite an epoxy backing.
That said, I cannot think of anything other than glass to show the wood itself perfectly. So my advise would be to go with the epoxy BUT to take a LOT of care to teach the wood to bend slowly, and don't aim for too high a poundage.

[fish n chicks]

I can live with not epoxying the bow, I just want the end result to be awesome. So how do I glass then?

[John Scifres]

Seems you are looking to build a glass bow then, not simply backing a piece of cherry.  Lot's threads talking about that.  Bingham's sells glass and the accoutrements.

[ChristopherO]

Sounds like you want a wooden bow but suspect the cherry of popping a splinter on the back, yet, don't want to loose the look of the cherry backing.  This and that the cherry stave or board will be strong enough to be the poundage you want in and of it's self.  
If this assumption is correct I've seen a video where a fella took a plain jane hickory bow, laid a very thin strip of decrative wood veneer on the back with smooth on, then smooth on'd a sheet of clear automotive fiberglass cloth cut to lenght and width over top of that to give the Hickory bow some pizzazz without any appreciable draw weight increase.  You should be able to take that same concept of smooth on'ing a sheer sheet of automotive fb over the back of your cherry to protect it and, also, keep the radiance of wood showing through.
I've heard/read of others doing the same, as well.  Check to see if youtube still has anything on this type of backing.
Hope this helps.

[fish n chicks]

Originally posted by ChristopherO:
Sounds like you want a wooden bow but suspect the cherry of popping a splinter on the back, yet, don't want to loose the look of the cherry backing.  This and that the cherry stave or board will be strong enough to be the poundage you want in and of it's self.  
If this assumption is correct I've seen a video where a fella took a plain jane hickory bow, laid a very thin strip of decrative wood veneer on the back with smooth on, then smooth on'd a sheet of clear automotive fiberglass cloth cut to lenght and width over top of that to give the Hickory bow some pizzazz without any appreciable draw weight increase.  You should be able to take that same concept of smooth on'ing a sheer sheet of automotive fb over the back of your cherry to protect it and, also, keep the radiance of wood showing through.
I've heard/read of others doing the same, as well.  Check to see if youtube still has anything on this type of backing.
Hope this helps.

Your assumptions are indeed correct. I'm just trying to put a thin layer of something clear on the back so the natural beauty still shows through. I'm not really trying to increase draw weight or anything like that, just trying to protect the bow.


Would wipe on polyurethane work?

[walkabout]

recently someone posted about using glass cloth as a backing and it came u that the glass cloth may indeed overpower the belly wood, depending on the species. they used tb3 and the cloth, but the tb3 isnt clear.