Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: upstatenybowyer on December 21, 2016, 06:04:06 pm
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Hello all,
I've never backed a bow with wood before, so I was hoping to get some insight from those of you who have.
I'd like to make a 60" bend-through-the-handle r/d bow with ERC on the belly and white ash on the back. What thickness would you recommend for both woods? I made a simple r/d caul with wood blocks screwed into a long plank of pine and was thinking I'd get the two pieces roughed out, glue them together, wrap them with duct tape and bend them into the form. Does this even make sense?
Thanks
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Get some bike innertubes, i get them free at bike shops you can use them as your clamps they work great. I just cut the section with the valve stem out
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I actually have a question on the innertube method too. Can someone post a picture of how it works.i'm just wondering how many tubes you need.if you do the whole tube or do you split the tube into sections. I also wonder how you fasten it to the bow. With clamps, dowels, or what.
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Bicycle shops will give you old tubes. I cut out the valve section then split the tube in half lengthwise and wrap from the handle out to the tip on both limbs then clamp the handle to a table, belly down and raise the tips on a 4" block. Wrap the tubes fairly tight. You can also use a pressure strip between the tube wrap and the bow.
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Start by wrapping the tube over itself and finish by tucking the free end under a wrap. I cut mine in 3/4" strips
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I just cut the valve area out, overlap and tuck under, you can just wrap it or use a caul I'll see if i have some pics
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Here is a couple of ways to use tubes, top pic it is just wrapped and bottom pic they are cut into bands (http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt320/bubncheryl/Mobile%20Uploads/20160615_163339_HDR_zpsbkd0gtfs.jpg) (http://s623.photobucket.com/user/bubncheryl/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160615_163339_HDR_zpsbkd0gtfs.jpg.html)
(http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt320/bubncheryl/Mobile%20Uploads/20160221_165826_HDR_zps4fwwu22m.jpg) (http://s623.photobucket.com/user/bubncheryl/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160221_165826_HDR_zps4fwwu22m.jpg.html)
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Bet you were tired of drilling holes, Bub! Thanks for the pictures.
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Are those shorter loops in the second picture? did you tie them together, stitch them, poke a whole in them, or something else? Maybe they aren't short loops after all. Sorry upstatenybowyer if I commandeered your post with these questions. ::)
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They are short loops, cut across the tube.
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I love that short loops of inner tube idea.
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Except for drilling 60 holes and cutting and gluing 60 dowells ;D ;D
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I didn't glue the dowels😉
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Yup, just like that! ERC with hickory or bamboo have been my best combo's for deep section longbows. When making a R/D bow, though, you need a certain amount, or really ratio, of width to thickness to ensure limb stability. So, don't go too narrow.
ERC is soft but elastic, so it can be pretty thick to start. I'd go, like 5/8"-3/4" on the cedar and 1/8"-3/16" on the ash. You're on your own for width, I'd likely start 1-1/2" minimum, and 2" wide even better. At least until I get more experience with the wood.
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I didn't glue the dowels😉
Oh, well, easy peasy then ;D ;D ;D
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Thanks bubby and DC for the bike tube idea. Went to my local bike shop and they gave me a box full. I think I'll try that snake-looking caul with 60 holes and dowels and if the bow lives through all the many steps of construction I'll be sure to give credit where credit is due. ;)
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The erc ended up being no good so I went to a local lumber yard and got some "vertical grain" douglas fir milled into 60" long, 2" wide, and 1/4" thick pieces. I've read that DF can make a good bow if handled correctly. Anyway, I used the inner-tube caul to glue the ash backing to 1 of the DF laminates, and once that's dry, I'll add the second. How's this looking?
I included a shot of the DF.
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I leave the tubes whole and wrap around the complete form. No holes to drill, no dowels to mess about with. I would have used more tubing. I wrap one way from tip to tip and then back the other way so as to not induce any twist. Forms are best made out of laminated and screwed exterior or birch ply once you are happy with the shapes.
Doug fir makes great arrows....when making lam bows use premium wood. It isn't worth the hassle using sub par material. I understand what stage you are at making bows tho....;)
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+1
You need plenty of strapping... if you can still see the bow you don't have enough strapping! Why do all that work just to find you have a gap or thick point in the glue line...
Trust me I know I've had to rasp off a 'boo backing >:(
http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/glue-up.html (http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/glue-up.html)
Del