Potential Flight Bow (second edition)

[PatM]

Here is the second attempt at the Ipe/Bamboo flight bow I attempted earlier this year.
 It's very similar but hopefully glued up better.
 I think I will add silk as the secondary backing rather than sinew this time. I'll request that this topic be moved to the flight forum after the bow proves it can actually shoot an arrow. 
 Here it is so far.

[Pat B]

Looks pretty cool, Pat. Do you think you could reduce the outer tip width a bit to reduce the physical weight some more?
 Looks like some of that good dark ipe like when it was first imported for decking.

[PatM]

For sure. They are still in rough form. They will also be tapered to a teardrop cross section so the string loop can straddle the siyah. Needs a small bridge too.
 The Ipe wedge is in there to stiffen the tips and allow a nock to be cut into the back.
 

[bubbles]

Nice.  Love a slender, sexy spliced siyah.   

[Badger]

  If you can maintain most of that profile she should be pretty hot. What kind of weight are you going for?

[mullet]

 Pat, what is the length, 30" or so? I'll get up some pictures tomorrow of one I have roughed out.

[wizardgoat]

Wow that looks pretty sweet. Have you ever had a siyah come off before?
Would you ever huge a siyah splice under the bamboo backing?

[PatM]

Thanks guys.
 Eddie, did you mean 50? It is about that across the tips.
 WG, Never had one come off but I always wrap a simple v splice as well. You can see the underlay over the splice but running the backing up the back of the splice  as well eliminates any need for wrapping.
 I would have done that but the bamboo piece was too short.
 I do have another in the works that will  have the splice covered.

[SLIMBOB]

Very cool Pat.  Looking forward to seeing it bent over.

[Marc St Louis]

Very nice Pat.  Personally I would trim the length of the siyahs down by a couple inches each but that's just me

[Badly Bent]

Very interesting bow design Pat, attractive style and just looks as though it will be a strong performer. This will one for some of us to watch and learn from for sure.

[IdahoMatt]

Man I can't wait to see that thing bend.  That is one wicked looking side profile

[PatM]

Marc,   I wanted to leave them a bit long so I could tip-toe down with the length and do a bit of exploring on siyah length.
 The bows of this design that Harry Drake made seemed to have them on the longer side so I figured I'd start there.
 Got the silk glued down tonight. I flattened the bamboo nodes to make everything be more linear so we'll see if silk is up to the task.
 Thanks all for the comments.

[mikekeswick]

Why silk on top of bamboo? I know it's not heavy stuff but still....if this is going to be a flight bow why add extra weight?

[DarkSoul]

Flattening bamboo nodes gives me goose bumps. I'd never even consider that! If weakens the structure so much. Not even silk can strengthen it back to it's full potential. A raw bamboo backing is the best you can achieve.