advice requested on purpleheart

[oldgun]

I really like the wood in question. Have heard that it hard to work with, that is no problem (love a challenge)
Can this be used as the main wood ? and would you back it? if so what with? Just finished my first one. works well, no pics because it is not as pretty as the ones I see on here. It was a really enjoyable time for me in my play room.
Its a long winter coming upon us what better thing to do than build a bow?
Thanks. Oldgun

[easternhunter]

OldGun..the best place to ask questions about slef-made bows is on Primitive archer....LOTS of knowledge over there and they've used about every wood out there.

From what I've heard, Purpleheart will make decent lams, but I'm not sure it'll work as full belly wood.

Good Luck and BTW, We don't care what it looks like...MAN-LAW rules state you must post at least one fulldraw pic if possible.

[smj]

Hi oldgun - sounds like the bug has bitten you hard! Amen.

The Bowyers Bibles are full of all kinds of helpful stuff...

volume one - page 104 and 105, for a 66 inch bow pulling 50 pounds at 28 inches, flat bellies and low crown backs, wide limbs:
Suggested Widths for Some Common Woods -
Purpleheart - 1 5/8 inch limb width

volume two - page 43, Lumberyard Woods, states that many of the tropical hardwoods will make a perfectly serviceable bow when designed to proper limb width and cross-section.

I have used purpleheart a lot as trim parts, grips, tips, grip layers, and so on. I have not made limbs out of it. Although, a couple months ago I saw a board up at the lumber shop with perfect grain, perfect width and thickness, and it even had a good price on it! Still, so far as a bow limb goes, I can not tell you what to expect as I have not yet used it. It is not the wood of choice, among the bowyers I know, for limbs. A pal of mine made a glass covered recurve with a pure purpleheart riser. He couldn't sand it without having it burn on him. I didn't believe him, so I went over to see what was going on. Sure enough, he was hand sanding it, and it would burn on him. I tried it, it burned on me. I had never seen this before, nor have I ever had the same issue with it. It will dull tools quickly, that I have seen in my own shop. It is nice wood, darkens with time even when finished. My pal, with the burning purpleheart, says that he will never use it again... I still like it in layers for the grip and nocks!

As to backing, I am a fan of bamboo. However, a nice hickory backing would work just fine as well, or a simple linen backing for that matter! However, the bow listed as 1 5/8 inch wide limb in the Bowyers Bible was, I believe, unbacked. Making an unbacked bow required some consideration of the grain though - not just any board will work. I would put some backing on it of some sort... You know, a simple linen backing to start with, just to get the bow shooting, followed up with a snake skin backing would really make for a cool looking bow! The backing is really to keep the grain from lifting up, splinters from poping out, and so on... The glue joint between the materials (other than linen or snakeskin) helps to keep the shape of the limb if you go for some reflex. Bamboo will help cast - it is like putting on natures fiber-glass!

Of course, I am certain the folks over at Primitive Archer can answer all of your questions without error and to much greater detail than I can!