maple vs oak backing
 

I am new here and just started getting in to bow making. My question is I have two ok but not great boards oak and maple and would like to make a backed bow. Is there one that would work better for the belly. If I correctly understand that some backings can over compress the belly.

RE: maple vs oak backing
 

Oak would work for either but the maple would be better for the backing. Provided the grain is good. Dont try to use Maple as a belly, it will crysle real bad.

Maple (such as rock and hard) handle tension well, but do not compress well.

Oak will handle both tension and compression ok.

T
 

Thanks that is what I figured the answer would be I was just kind of hoping for an oak backing simply for the look.

RE: T
 

You can do an oak oak. Rip your backing off of your oak belly, then glue it back on backwards. That way your crossing any violations. I build lots of kids bows that way.