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This Sasquatch special has Ziricote with the G-10 frame, and it was not an easy one to finish. The wood itself was bone dry when i got it, but just setting in the shop a couple months it soaked up moisture. After finish sanding it, and hanging it in the spray booth for a couple days at 80 degrees, it still had a bunch of micro checking going on.  You couldn't even see these tiny cracks unless you hit it with a sanding sealer. I used a lot of water thin super glue to get everything filled, and sanded smooth again. it took 3 days to stabilize at 80 degrees. 

It reminded me a lot of working with African Black wood, or the solid black Gaboon Ebony... That stuff is a nightmare when it comes to surface checking. I will not work with either of those two any more. I'm amazed they use that stuff for fret boards on guitars.

Any how..... Happy New Year fellow bowyers!      Kirk

Here are a few more pics of the build album.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/3QqkchQwJPaYMrK39

 Very nice Bow 

Nice bow Kirk

I really really like working with the African black wood

Good looking bow and happy new year.

I agree with Max about African Blackwood being a fine wood to work with, one of my favorites, but haven't had any in the shop for a long while. It was widely used to make oboes, flutes and clarinets back in the day. The last piece I had was uniform black with any grain differences being practically invisible.

I have to admit that i didn't have as many issues with the African Black wood as i did Gaboon Ebony. But the cost is pretty high for a solid black material. It's good to hear that you guys have better luck with it than i have.     Kirk

Quote from: Kirkll on January 04, 2024, 12:51:35 PM
I have to admit that i didn't have as many issues with the African Black wood as i did Gaboon Ebony. But the cost is pretty high for a solid black material. It's good to hear that you guys have better luck with it than i have.     Kirk

I have a dehumidifier in my bow shop and keep it running, winter time I barely have to empty it but summer time in Mississippi is every 2 days or so.  I don't buy wood and use it when it arrives, I like to let it set and dry out for a while and weigh it and keep a log until it quits loosing weight.  I really like the African Black wood but is so high $ now days and I guess it's not coming into the US anymore??

Every sand paper mark is visible so Lot's of sanding, but I love the look.
Never tried G-10
East Indian Rosewood is close to A Blackwood but more Brown.
I like the look of Wenge but was a pain to fill the voids and the chipping off also.

Yup.... Unfortunately all of our exotics are getting very hard to come by anymore, and only special order it now. The cost is getting to the point it's not something i can afford to keep in stock any more.

You are right about Wenge and it's grand canyon pores, but it's more cost effective than ebony and makes a decent limb core too.

I haven't seen the east Indian rosewood available in a long time. That was beautiful wood. The last piece i worked with years ago had a maroon tint to it that was exotic.   Kirk

This board was big enough to make a riser IF I cut it just right.
4/4 board


5 pieces to make a riser, ready for glue up




This is the second board, I ordered 3 board from Bellforest products

Can't wait to see the finished product on that riser....