I'm about to get my feet wet in bow building. I had the rare opportunity to go out and work with JD Berry on a vintage bow design I wanted to duplicate. JD was great and taught me a lot and sent me home with a form for the bow. I'm cleaning out my garage/shop and getting ready to try it on my own. I know I'm going to have mistakes as well as successes, but I'm really looking forward to it. Haven't really tucked into anything this ambitious since I quit making ventriloquist figures seven years ago.
My question is regarding acceptable woods. I'll be making my own tapered lams and I'd like to get a couple of practice bows under my belt before I try expensive woods. I can get oak and hickory and I know they're OK, but I happen to have a very good supply of straight grained 20 year aged mahogany, and access to good cedar. I've never heard of any bows of these woods, but I'm wondering if they'd work for a glass laminated bow for a few first efforts. Any input will be appreciated.
Dick in Seattle
found my answers with some research... both mahogany and cedar are apparently no no's, darn it. Would have made life easy, but I now have a good list of woods and properties and can head off to my favorite hardwoods store...
good luck. enjoy it completely
Cedar can be used for a veneer over a core wood. Have fun. Chad