Tapered lams

[Blaflair2]

So I got a bundle of tapered maple lams and some parallel lams of some darker wood. Real grainy, not sure what it is. The guy got them from an estate sale of a local bowyer from the 60's. Anywhoo. The maple lams are 1/8" down to 1/16". How would I go about figuring out how many I need in a stack? Trial and error? I'm planing an osage belly and hickory backing and was thinking of putting two sets of tapers and a parallel. Any suggestions. Blackhawk? Lol

[mikekeswick]

What poundage? What draw length? What limb profile?
Answer these and I can help 

[Blaflair2]

I'd like a 62" bendy handle static recurve. I have osage for the belly and hickory for the back. Just wondering about the tapered lams as the core. Or do I just put a thinner core in? Looking for 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" wide.

[Blaflair2]

I want it to be 60# or so

[bow101]

I'd like a 62" bendy handle static recurve. I have osage for the belly and hickory for the back. Just wondering about the tapered lams as the core. Or do I just put a thinner core in? Looking for 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" wide.

If you have osage for the belly and hickory for the back why bother with the maple at all.  Those tapered lams are good for a R/D or 3 piece or  FG bows...

[Blaflair2]

I have a design in mind and think they would work better. I wanna make a bow like cal recurve made for bow of the month awhile back.

[blackhawk]

Hickory backing: 1/8-1/16" thickness taper

Maple core: 1/8-1/16" thickness taper

Osage belly: from fades to tips go 3/8"-5/16" ,and the parallel thickness thru the handle section will depend on what style handle you do...if its not going to be thick enough you'll have to add a power lam in between the backing and core that will extend out past whereever the ends of your glued on handle end up...

I'm assuming your still wanting to make a trilam recurve? This should leave you with a 1/16"+ to tiller off n make weight...

[Blaflair2]

How would I taper the belly? I have a block plane. I've saw it done with a jointer. But I don't have one. I have a table saw but no idea how I could cut a taper for the lams

[Blaflair2]

Oh, and yes I still have the recurve stuck on my head lol, thanks again

[adb]

The tapered lams would be core wood. I personally don't do that, but some guys like the look of tapered lams, making the tip appear 'lighter' and more proportionate.

[blackhawk]

First get the side of the osage that will be glued planed flat n ready for glue..u can use a hand plane,or rasps n sanding blocks to accomplish this(this is where power tools are really needed and the preferred way to go about all this),but it can be done with all hand tools...next mark your thickness dimensions from the glued side and facet a line with a pencil just as you would on a self bow to reduce your thickness,and have a guid to go to(do both sides to keep side to side thickness the same)...now take your aggressive rasps or drawknive first if its a lot and reduce down to your tapered line you faceted down the side of the osage....your basically tillering it is all,and making sure it has a nice even bend before glue up so if you so desire to induce shape at glue up it will bend nice and evenly ... making laminate bows is a precision made thing...much thought has to be done and put into it,and most of the work is done pre glue up....the better job you do before gluing it up the better it will be and turn out...and like I said power tools aid tremendously if needing to reduce and taper your own lams...

[bubby]

you don't have to taper them if you don't have the tools, go 1/8" 1/8" 3/8" and glue the handle on, the thicker belly lam will get the fades started before the handle and will help with it not popping off, glue the three lams up I use inertubes instead of clamps, put an 1 " block under the centerline, clamp it about 16" from the tips and put a 2" block under the tips, this will give a nice flip to the tips kinda easy

[Blaflair2]

I wanna sandwhich my handle in between core and belly. I have tapered maple lams as well I'm gonna use for the core . I want to make a reflexed handle recurve

[Danzn Bar]

   Wow  some great information , Blackhawks bout got it built. you are very good in your explanation Chris,  Do you make your living as a teacher.......very nice!

[soy]

  Wow  some great information , Blackhawks bout got it built. you are very good in your explanation Chris,  Do you make your living as a teacher.......very nice!

X2 great advice from everyone..... that is point blank why I love this site great info from great guys