Wood Grain

Think of how a log cracks if it dries too quickly. The cracks goes from the center to the outer surface. In a horn bow you want the core to have much strenght in shear.

With diffuse-porous woods such as maple, it should have the yellow configuration. It is probably the same for yew cores.

With ring-porous woods such as ash and oak, the orientation should be the green way, to prevent the core to split along the porous layers.

Shouldn't the yellow configuration be the other way around? Outer as back and inner as belly?
This is how yew longbows have the light sapwood on the back with the darker heartwood as the belly. I'm no bowyer so I'd be interested, with horn and sinew layers either side, does this matter?

It probably does not matter too much in a horn bow, but the yellow back/belly is correct for the turkish bows. I think it has something to do with steambending the core into reflex. That way, it is probably best to have the outer growth ring on the stretching side while reflexing it.

Thanks for your advice.

All 2 configuration is usefull. If i can say from mi experiences most woods is not very ideal in yelow con. Than you more use green con.Maybe its situation if you work in more than 1 bow.If you work in 1 bow you have time search best choice.

Kviljo wrote:

That way, it is probably best to have the outer growth ring on the stretching side while reflexing it.

Thanks Kviljo that makes sense, especially after seeing the construction of many Turkish bows here, where the core thickness is reduced from the back.