Working w/ Eastern Red Cedar

[jimsbows]

1)  Can the sap wood be used on the back?

2)  Is it a candidate for ELB if sinew backed?

Thanks for any help/suggestions.

[Pat B]

The sapwood can be used. I have seen all sapwood ELB style ERC bows that shot very well.
 ERC is a candidate for an ELB without a sinew backing. I think sinew would be the wrong backing for an ELB. Rawhide or hickory would be a better choice. IMO

[jimsbows]

Thank you Pat.  Having never used this wood my thoughts were it would act like low-alt. yew or wide ringed yew.  I am told its compression is good, tension is questionable or so I am told.  Anyhow I have the sinew or I may go rawhide but thank you so much for your input.

[Pat B]

ERC and sinew would be a great combo it the bow is short enough to get the full effects of the sinew. I have an ERC bow blank that is 49" long and half sapwood/ half heartwood that I plan to sinew back.
I think a backing is warrented with almost any ERC bow because it's tension strength isn't all that good. I do think the sapwood has better tension charactoristics than the heartwood.