I made a 42" r/d longbow modeled after my Navajo Caddo that is made from two parallel 1/32" lams in between .05 glass. The riser is 12" long. The bow is 7/8" wide straight tapering to 1/2" nocks. I thought my 7yr old who has been shooting for 3 years could pull it and it is a bit strong. IF this were a straight limbed bow is it safe to assume that the draw would be easier?
The bow still need a final sand a sealed.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/matnjo/DSC00636.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/matnjo/DSC00669.jpg)
matnjo, if the limbs were straight it would be a lighter pull. But there are a couple of things you could do to to lighten it up. You could probably stand to narrow the limbs a bit more, especially since it's a kids bow. Or you could sand the corners of the belly on about a 45 degree angle. Basically making the belly more narrow than the back. It might surprise you how much weight you can take off a bow like this. Good luck.
As Eathan said it is pretty easy to lighten it more. Might just want to make another lighter one now that you have this one as a model. That youngster will grow into this one fast enough.
Ron
You send it to me .....I'll take real good care of it...
The two .030" Laminations are right for the kids Bow that you made, the mistake is that you should have used .040" F/G and even better have used .030" F/G.
.050" F/G is way to stiff and strong for a Youth Bow of that short Length....ONE SHOT... :) :) :)
I had some .05 glass and wanted to give a kids bow a go. I just ordered some .03 glass from Binghmas for the next go round.
Thanks all
What weight was this bow pulling?
you can sand the glass down by hand.i use a wooden block about 6" long,2"wide and 1"thick and 220 grit paper.cut the sandpaper in strips about 3" by 2".wrap around the block and use the flat side down and count the strokes.do a 100 on the back of the top limb,same on bottom limb.then do the same on the belly of the bow.for ever .001 you sand off you drop about a pound.takes some time but with.5 glass you can drop 10#s and never have any problems.
Above all, sincere hats off for making your son a bow.
No good deed goes unanswered.