Where do you all get your backing materials from?

SEMO_HUNTER · February 27, 2012, 11:38:00 AM

I'm looking for some hickory backings and possibly osage backings for a couple of all wood laminated bow projects I'm going to start. I've looked at 3rivers already, but was wondering where you all get yours from? I know there are some other sources available out there and I would like to check them all before I buy. I kinda like to shop around and compare prices/quality before I jump right in if you know what I mean. Any suggestions and/or info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

SEMO

PEARL DRUMS · February 27, 2012, 12:02:00 PM

Buy a board and resaw your own Chris. The backers you buy are rarely of good quality and rarely good grained for backing.

SEMO_HUNTER · February 27, 2012, 12:12:00 PM

Where does a guy go to find a good hickory board to saw up? There are a couple hardwood places around that I could call, and I've got a Lowe's but I don't remember seeing anything like that there? Sawing my own wouldn't be a problem cause I've got a table saw, if I could find a good board to work with.

Thanks

PEARL DRUMS · February 27, 2012, 12:18:00 PM

Lowes probably wont have it. Menards carries it up here. I would visit your hardwood places near by and see what they have. You wont be happy with very many of the slats sold as backers. I know you too well!

SEMO_HUNTER · February 27, 2012, 12:25:00 PM

Your probably right. They would have to allow me to pick through the stack and find "The One" before I'd buy it.

wood carver 2 · February 27, 2012, 12:36:00 PM

If a wood supplier won't let me pick through the pile, I go elsewhere. I'm not buying lesser quality to avoid moving a bunch of boards. Most places have no problem with that. I do, however, make a point of not leaving a mess behind.
Dave.

okie64 · February 27, 2012, 12:39:00 PM

I buy hickory at a local lumberyard. I found it by calling around to a few different cabinet shops and asking where they got their wood. A 1" x 12" x 8' usually costs about 10 bucks and you can get quite a few backing strips from it. Most places like that dont care if you pick through their lumber piles especially if you tell them what you're doing with it. I usually take a bow or two to show them.

okie64 · February 27, 2012, 12:41:00 PM

I buy hickory at a local lumberyard. I found it by calling around to a few different cabinet shops and asking where they got their wood. A 1" x 12" x 8' usually costs about 10 bucks and you can get quite a few backing strips from it. Most places like that dont care if you pick through their lumber piles especially if you tell them what you're doing with it. I usually take a bow or two to show them.

dmikeyj · February 27, 2012, 12:46:00 PM

Lowe's sells hickory wheelbarrow handles for around 12 bucks, they are 1 3/4 square, 60" long. Last time I went, I found 2 good, straight grained handles.

Pat B · February 27, 2012, 12:48:00 PM

I bought a 4/5"x6"x10' hickory board from a specialty lumber company not far from where I live. I think it was $30. They allowed me to pick through the stack but only if I restacked as good as it was before I messed with it. It was necessary to pick through to find "the" board I wanted. I cut that board into a 6' and a 4' piece and resawed backing strips and a few belly pieces. The 4' pieces get a splice in the handle area.

wood carver 2 · February 27, 2012, 01:43:00 PM

When sawing for backings, does it work better if it's flat sawn or quarter sawn? I glued up a tri lam using 1/8" quarter sawn hickory for the back and belly. This bow exploded violently on the tree. It might have been something I did wrong. Could be I didn't round off the edges enough.

Dave.

k-hat · February 27, 2012, 02:14:00 PM

Murray Gaskins has a website with materials for backing as well as cores, etc. Had some email exchanges with him, and he seems like a real good guy. Haven't bought anything from him, but i wouldn't hesitate to if i had the funds;) Not sure if i should post his website? but you can search for it:)

k-hat · February 27, 2012, 02:17:00 PM

Just did a quick search and he's a member here, but not a sponsor.

SEMO_HUNTER · February 27, 2012, 03:36:00 PM

Just to clarify what I mean by backing so it doesn't get confused with lams and almost all of you guys know the difference I'm sure of that, but for anyone who doesn't I thought I'd better post this just in case.
I'm going to need a backing at least 1/8" to 1/4" thick then I can plane it down to whatever dimensions will work the best for what I'm building and it could end up even smaller than 1/8" thickness before I'm done with it?

Also if one of you who have used slats or strips as backing before please explain what you look for in the grain? Straight up and down I'd assume with no run out off each side or the other correct? I'm talking about Hickory of course, should I be able to locate some.

Thanks, keep em coming!

k-hat · February 27, 2012, 05:34:00 PM

Murray has actual backing strips, not lams. I probly misused the word cores there. He sells stuff for making selfbows, backed wood bows, as well as sinew and other stuff.

Art B · February 27, 2012, 06:16:00 PM

Best backing you can get Chris is a pristine back from a bow that didn't work out for whatever reason. We all have a few of those laying around.

My brother was by the other day and brought his persimmon backed red elm to shoot that I made for him about 10yrs ago. A friend of mine still has elm backed walnut I made for him some years ago. I used many pristine hickory backing from hickory bows that had issues. Or cut backings off of twisted staves that were to twisted for a bow. Then heat corrected and reused.

Moral of the story, don't throw good backings out with the bow

.

rainman · February 28, 2012, 05:33:00 PM

Murray Gaskins had real good material and used to post all the time 6 years ago. Have'nt dealt with him lately but everything I ever got from him was good quallity.

Roy from Pa · February 28, 2012, 06:09:00 PM

Before you put the backing on a bow Chris, give it a bend test. Bend the backing in a U shape. If it breaks that way, it will prolly break on a bow.

Disclamer: Some old fart from WV taught me that. Not gonna mention any names but he posted above...

SEMO_HUNTER · February 29, 2012, 04:32:00 AM

Thanks for the replies guys.

Roybert I gotta keep my eye on both of y'all Old Farts!

7 Lakes · March 02, 2012, 05:58:00 PM

Believe it or not there are different types of Hickory. Pecan goes into the Hickory stack at Lumber yards. While it still makes a pretty good backing it ain't hickory.

I haven't talked with him for a while but Murray Gaskins always had Pignut Hickory. Pignut is almost impossible to break by bending. Especially the thinner stuff.