Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: bow101 on September 21, 2014, 10:57:58 pm

Title: Latest Maple Lam Bow
Post by: bow101 on September 21, 2014, 10:57:58 pm
This is the latest lam I've done.  Almost finished just have to shoot 'er in and hopefully with luck put a finish on it.  63" NTN about 48-52# @27"  a little under 1 1/2" width at the fades.  It has a 20" white oak 1/8" Power Lam between both lams.  3" glues in reflex.
Still have to get a better full draw pic the computer or something acting up and cutting off the bottom of some photos.   As you can see from the shavings the glue went quite well on this one.  Comments welcome.

PS. someone tell me more about String follow and Set I know this subject has come up a millions times.  Anyway this bow lost 1/2" of reflex on the tips after tiller and took set of 1/2" in the mid limbs to fade areas.....So is this a total of 1" of set or what.  :-\
Title: Re: Latest Maple Lam Bow
Post by: bow101 on September 21, 2014, 11:24:06 pm
The one on the left     the other bow is an experiment.  ;D
Title: Re: Latest Maple Lam Bow
Post by: bubbles on September 22, 2014, 01:25:14 am
Is it bending at all around that handle?
Title: Re: Latest Maple Lam Bow
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on September 22, 2014, 08:13:34 am
Cut that handle back off and let her bend through, its going to pop off as is.
Title: Re: Latest Maple Lam Bow
Post by: Blaflair2 on September 22, 2014, 01:32:31 pm
No way that handle is gonna stay. Not even ductape would hold that sucker
Title: Re: Latest Maple Lam Bow
Post by: bow101 on September 22, 2014, 02:00:53 pm
Cut that handle back off and let her bend through, its going to pop off as is.

It is bending in the area but very, very slight.  Problem is I already narrowed the handle section for fit and cut in a small arrow shelf.   ???       I pondered on that most of the day.   If I take off the handle it may bend to much in the center and break.  You still think its advisable  :-\
Title: Re: Latest Maple Lam Bow
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on September 22, 2014, 03:28:24 pm
It wont stay put, I promise. Cut it off. If it appears to be bending too much in the middle afterwards, add a 18-20"long belly lam on center and stiffen it up.
Title: Re: Latest Maple Lam Bow
Post by: H Rhodes on September 22, 2014, 04:07:46 pm
Pearly is telling you right.  I would take another route if you have to have a handle.  Stiffen it with the lam he described and then build it up with several decreasingly shorter thin laminates.  Then you will have one that will last.  Other than the handle issue, it looks like a cool bow to me.
Title: Re: Latest Maple Lam Bow
Post by: bow101 on September 22, 2014, 06:18:04 pm
...... >:(  oh well made fire wood again I tried taking off the handle and off came a huge chunk of the belly..... on to the next project.
Title: Re: Latest Maple Lam Bow
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on September 22, 2014, 07:13:57 pm
What did you go and do that fir?!?!?!?! You should have just rasped it off clean and easy. On to the next!
Title: Re: Latest Maple Lam Bow
Post by: huisme on September 22, 2014, 07:27:57 pm
Set is damage to the wood. String flow is the tips following the string when unstrung. A stave with two inches of reflex that loses one of those inches has one inch of set, one inch of reflex=no string follow. A bow that starts with one inch deflex and ends with one inch of deflex has no set, one inch of string follow.
Title: Re: Latest Maple Lam Bow
Post by: bow101 on September 22, 2014, 07:45:29 pm
What did you go and do that fir?!?!?!?! You should have just rasped it off clean and easy. On to the next!

Yep I agree, I have to stay away from the chisels.  :(   I have other lams sitting and waiting.
Title: Re: Latest Maple Lam Bow
Post by: H Rhodes on September 22, 2014, 07:57:30 pm
 :(  Part of it.  I don't even hesitate anymore - just chunk it in the burn pile and grab another one.
Title: Re: Latest Maple Lam Bow
Post by: PatM on September 22, 2014, 09:13:53 pm
Seems like you might have saved it to make another bow like the one on the right...
Title: Re: Latest Maple Lam Bow
Post by: IdahoMatt on September 23, 2014, 12:11:12 am
I'm getting to think more like Howard lately.  Looked like it was bending good too.
Title: Re: Latest Maple Lam Bow
Post by: Pago on September 23, 2014, 06:20:32 pm
I like idea behind the bow what is the thickness of the back and belly lams?  Looks like about 5/16 a piece?
Title: Re: Latest Maple Lam Bow
Post by: bow101 on September 23, 2014, 06:40:01 pm
I like idea behind the bow what is the thickness of the back and belly lams?  Looks like about 5/16 a piece?

I normally end up with a total thickness of 7/16"  (approx.)  using only 2 lams.  Trilam would be better.  This photo shows what I aim for when ripping the material.  I use an open form with 3-4" blocks on the ends for the reflex.  You have to grind down one of the lams so they will bend during glue up.  This was the first one I built using a power lam.
Title: Re: Latest Maple Lam Bow
Post by: Pago on September 24, 2014, 01:32:35 am
I agree a tri-lam would be better but, personally I like novel ways of building bows.  My estimate was way off, I was looking at the 1/8" powerlam and trying to make out the thickness of the front and back in the middle of the bow.  Any other specs you care to share would be great to know.