I misread--thought you said you prefer glass (duhh.....need my eyes checked).

I'm no help with selfbows--I've broken or crysaled every one I owned, except for my osage (not snakey) bow. Soft woods--black walnut, cherry, cedar--didin't hold up for me, even on the compression side. Hickory is tough, but generally not very fast.

Never had a yew selfbow, but I love it in a laminated bow.

Chad

I wonder if I should consider a hickory backed hickory. Or hickory bamboo backed?

Here are a few pics that I found:

Bamboo backed Red Oak:



Bamboo backed Bloodwood:


Bamboo backed Ossage (paduak/maple riser)


Babmboo backed yew:

Bob, I thought the bamboo showed up more.

Just an FYI--that red oak is stained--won't affect the performance, but don't expect natural red oak to look that dark.

Don't think backing hickory with hickory would help anything--but I'm not a bowyer, so take that for what it's worth.

Chad

Here's the thing, I made it out to several little trad. shoots last year. And some bowyers were there hockin thier goods. I was particularly interested in the self bows. But didn't know really which one was good or bad. There was all kinds of material from oak, to ash, to solid cherry. And others I can't remember. So before I go back and start wheelin and dealing I figured I would know a little more about woods.

But what I think I have found, as everything in life, it depends. Depends on design, length, arrow shot, and even the plain grain of wood used. Guess I will have to make a few mistakes to find what I want.

Yep--you nailed it. I couldn't tell you what wood works better in a given design, but I have talked to several selfbowyers and the ones that know their stuff can tell you.

You might invest in the "Traditional Bowyer's Bible" series (3 books). LOTS of info there. However, even in these you will find some opinion, and folks that disagree with those opinions.

Chad

bigcountry, why not just build your own selfbow at one of the bigger shoots. That's what we did last year. Gary Davis was at our primitive shoot with a bunch of osage staves and we built one for my son. Gary and a helper were there with all the equipment and advice we needed. It took about 12 hours for us to finish it up and it turned out surprisingly well. We even made a flemish string. I may build one for myself this year.

FWIW, Osage is the only material that Gary will gaurantee.

Bob, I would love too. I really didn't see any build alongs at the baltimore trad. classic. Maybe JimPic can correct me if that was available. That wwould pretty incredible.

I shoot ceder arrows with square cut feath
ers.