R/D Lam bow (Teaser) (update 1)

[BowSlayer]

Here is a pic of a laminated bow im gluing up. Im not giving too much away just yet but ive used a resin based glue instead of the PVA glue i used on my last one.

stay tuned

[blackhawk]

good luck,and remember to take your time tillering..I like the shape so far...what woods?what length?....and I see you just cant stay away from this stuff...lol....its too addictive to just walk away for some folks 

[BowSlayer]

good luck,and remember to take your time tillering..I like the shape so far...what woods?what length?....and I see you just cant stay away from this stuff...lol....its too addictive to just walk away for some folks 

nope to addictive ill give you the length 66" i was planning on maybe a 5 curve design. we'll see how this one goes. how do you suggest i tiller it? the reflex scares me

[Badger]

  Slayer, I have found when tillering these bows that the trickiest part is just inside the curves. When floor tillering they appear stiff but if you get them bending just a hair too much they can suddenly collapse. I like to get that area just slightly flexing until I am getting some decent bend in the bow. I tend to appraoch those from the mid inner limb out to the curves and into the fades. I am sure any number of ways will work.

[BowSlayer]

Thank's badger, still a fair way to go. im leaving this resin epoxy bow to cure for a day or two even though it really only needs six hrs.

[blackhawk]

Use a pulley system tree to tiller it to be able to stand back and watch what is bending and what isnt....you'll be able to see it better standing back and exercising it that way...start with a long string right away....and don't let the high early draw weight fool you...it will act like its heavier than it really is until the reflex totally unfolds n straightens out....and like badger says..be super careful of removing stock at the reflex portions....it'll act stubborn and you'll be deceived into taking more than you should after trying to get them to move after several prior removals...go slow n be patient with it and you'll be rewarded

[BowSlayer]

thank's again for the advice. can't wait to see how this one turns out

[wood_bandit 99]

I just laminated a flatbow together out of a kit I got when I started making bows. I don't see why anyone would choose to do these woods in this order but it is what it is now. It is boo, then ipe, then hickory. I laminated it together on my desk that I have laminated a few on before but this was the first trilam I have done. I am making it for a guy that's letting me use his bandsaw but I am going to have to cut it out with it so it won't be a big suprise

[BowSlayer]

Rasp? How about you post some pictures

[mikekeswick]

what woods and in what order. If you've used cherry or walnut belly and a hickory back.....GOOD LUCK!

[BowSlayer]

Ok the secrets out. it's oak on the back walnut core and an oak belly. now i know some might think oak isn't a good backing but i think it will work. i also had to cut 3" of each end as they had no curve and were just dead weight on the tips.  i think it's now 57" TTT the walnut core only goes half way up the limbs and i fear that i made the taper too sharp so might cause a slight hinge. ahh well.... lesson learnt. but i guese i won't know until it's on the tillering tree. from floor tiller this bow seems like it's going to be pretty light around 15#!!! I know that's feather wieght but the oak lams are only about 3mm thick. im also adding a laminated handle of oak beech and yet more oak! enough talk about the little problems and possible faliures let's see some pics.




my knife, used it to remove exces epoxy.


not sure how well you can see it but here is that terrible core transition


leaving theese pretty wide incase i need to change string alignment


oak, walnut, oak.

that's it, ill post pics when i rough shape the handle or get it on the tiller.

[adb]

Wow. I'm not sure what you're going to do with that. Sure seems like if there's a hard way to do something, you'll find it.

[BowSlayer]

Haha.  If it was easy everyone would do it  

[mikekeswick]

That won't work from what I can see, the mid limb on will hinge over horribly. Your thickness taper is way, way too sharp. You will earn from it though! If you are getting somebody to prepare lams for you then get them more like 6mm thick, glue up and cut them out with a pyramid width taper. If you are stuck on a r/d bow then keep it mild and use a belly and a backing forget the core for now.

[BowSlayer]

Yup this bow is full of mistakes. I can get lams 5mm thick but they are like £20 each!  Ill see how this turns out. But I suppose I learnt from this bow. Never know it might surprise us all. But I doubt that.  I have 4 more 40"oak lams  and two 75" long lams of oak that are quater sawn with no knots. Might try this again.