Tri-Lam hick-boo-Ipe question.

[Easternarcher]

Hey folks.
I don't post as often as I used to , but life is busy...for all of us!

Anyways, I recently glued upa tri-lam with a mild R/D profile. Quartersawn Hickory backing - Bamboo core(very thin) and Ipe bellywood.  I'm beginning to wonder if the Hickory is abit thick at 5/32"...the boo core is less than 1/8th. and the Ipe is a 3/8-7/16""(I think) slat from knightD.

I am not looking for that much weight...+/- 45 lbs at 28". the bow will be 66" full length.
Question I have after looking at it is...Will I have much belly wood left after tillering? or should I try to shave the hickory down some??

[Jude]

I'm not certain, but I think the Ipe should be able to handle it.

[bubby]

I know it dosn't take much epe for 45#, i've got a boo backed epe, 64" and 70# @29"and at the fades it's right at 1/2" thick, you could shave the back a bit and then if the epe starts getting too thin tiller the sides a bit, how wide are you starting out, Bub

[Easternarcher]

I know it dosn't take much epe for 45#, i've got a boo backed epe, 64" and 70# @29"and at the fades it's right at 1/2" thick, you could shave the back a bit and then if the epe starts getting too thin tiller the sides a bit, how wide are you starting out, Bub

1.25 there-abouts. So not alot to shave there. the belly may get quite thin on this one.....

[bubby]

mine is 1 1/8" to about 9" from the tips then tapers to the nock's, gives ya a little whittle room, not much but a little, Bub

[Jude]

If you went with a pyramid profile, you could keep it about 7/16" thick throughout and if the boo core is 3/32", you would have 6/32" (3/16") of Ipe left behind.  You should be able to get a 45# bow with that, and have it be pretty skinny besides.

EDIT:  Apparently I can't do math at the end of my shift; I wrote 6/32 rounds to 3/7)

[dragonman]

it sounds to me like that combination will make a 60lb plus bow and the ipe is too thick....based on the bows i've made ...you dont need much ipe to make a bow

[DarkSoul]

A trilam with ipé on the belly can get really thin. A 1/8" core and 5/32" backing might be a bit thick, but depends on the width of the bow. A narrow longbow of, say, 1" wide at the handle will still contain enough ipé in the end. But a wider flatbow...might end up with very little ipé near the tips. The best advice I can give you, is to always taper the backing AND core a bit when making a trilam with ipé belly. Use a belt sander to thin the last 20" of each lam (each end) about 1/16" or so. That'll give just a little more ipé near the tips, and looks better as well.

[Easternarcher]

A trilam with ipé on the belly can get really thin. A 1/8" core and 5/32" backing might be a bit thick, but depends on the width of the bow. A narrow longbow of, say, 1" wide at the handle will still contain enough ipé in the end. But a wider flatbow...might end up with very little ipé near the tips. The best advice I can give you, is to always taper the backing AND core a bit when making a trilam with ipé belly. Use a belt sander to thin the last 20" of each lam (each end) about 1/16" or so. That'll give just a little more ipé near the tips, and looks better as well.

Right! I wish I had thought of that little trick when I started!!!

I am going to try and get a taper on the backing before I start to tiller.
Thanks.
Right!