Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: radius on July 10, 2008, 11:32:00 am

Title: automatic r/d
Post by: radius on July 10, 2008, 11:32:00 am

Hey guys,

Anybody try this?

I just read on the Bowyer's Den, this guys recurves his tips on an otherwise straight bow, by gluing laminations into recurve (not by heat-bending).  He then tillers the bow and says that due to string follow gets an automatic deflex/recurve bow.  I have some recurve limbs that I plan to splice together and splint with a backing strip of ash...I'm gonna give it a try.

Title: Re: automatic r/d
Post by: Dano on July 10, 2008, 12:08:35 pm

That's fancy way of exlpaining away the set the bow took because of the recurves, just goes ta show ya that set ain't all bad.

Title: Re: automatic r/d
Post by: Hillbilly on July 10, 2008, 01:01:36 pm

Quote

Anybody try this?

Quote

He then tillers the bow and says that due to string follow gets an automatic deflex/recurve bow

Not intentionally, but it usually happens.  :) The ipe/bamboo bow that Justin just posted has the recurves kerfed and glued.

Title: Re: automatic r/d
Post by: Badger on July 10, 2008, 01:11:05 pm

      Most bows will take a little set and get that natural r/d look after tillering. I prefer to glue mine in from the start to reduce the stress just a bit. I think the closer to the starting shape a bow has the better it will perform. If I am trying to build a very high performance bow I glue in about 3/4" deflex and 2" reflex. I hope to finish with about 1" deflex and 1 1/2" reflex. Doesn't always wortk out that way but thats the goal. Steve

Title: Re: automatic r/d
Post by: radius on July 11, 2008, 02:15:49 am

Thanks, Badger that's good thinking.  I am lately experimenting with a few techniques...

1.  recurve yew laminations with white ash vertical grain backing

2.  osage/hickory reflexed short bow (52" long)

3.  setback/recurve white ash laminated bow with 2" wide limbs...

4.  laminated yew longbow with white ash backing.

All these bows are blanks right now.  The ash/yew combo is cool because the ash somewhat resembles the sapwood on my all heartwood laminations.  The Osage/hickory bow is a salvage job from one that I screwed the tips on a few months ago.  The setback/recurve is a variation of my Firehawk bows.  The laminated yew longbow was supposed to be a recurve, but I botched the lamination and the tips had a big gap in them.

So, I don't have time!!!!     to do my r/d bow according to Steve's way of thinking right now.  But I will!  I will!