Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: beetlebailey1977 on January 12, 2011, 06:04:49 pm
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What does trapping the back of the bow mean?
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From what I gather you would trap the back in bows that are much stronger in tension than compression like hickory. It means that the cross section would be a trapezoidal shape. the back being slightly narrower than the belly so that there is more wood on the belly to compensate for the compression.
I've never done it so I might be wrong but that is how it has been explained to me.
Mark
p.s. someone with more experience (most on this forum) might chime and explain it better.
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Commadore you hit the nail on the head.
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Its great for bows where you worry about the backing overpowering the belly. I myself did it on my IPE/Boo bow. As I made a 1.4" wide limb, which looking back is too wide for IPE.
I have some Black locust staves, I thought about trapping when I build.
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I've built hickory bows like this. And could'nt see a difference. But was told that unless your bows of high weight 70 to 100 pounds it nos'nt matter that much. Never built a hickory over 65#'s so I don't know if thats true or not.
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I usually make the backs of my bows narrower. It does balance the tension and compression forces better. Most woods are much stronger in tension.
Also have made sapling bows taking advantage of the crowned back to have the same effect as the trapazoid design. (I chafe at the cutesy shortcut term "trapping." To me, trapping means catching furbearors for their pelts!)
Jim