Trad Gang

Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: hit or miss on September 05, 2008, 03:11:00 PM

Title: BBH questions!
Post by: hit or miss on September 05, 2008, 03:11:00 PM

I'm working on a BBH and have a few questions.'

I have the hickory shaped and am wondering how far do you floor tiller it before gluing up the bamboo?  I have the tips flexing at 1/4 inch and it tapers to 3/4 at the handle, the center 24-30 inches.  I'd like to put some r/d into it when I glue it up.

I'm shooting for 53-58 pounds when done at 26" draw.  The bow is around 67" long and fairly wide at 1 3/4.  

I do believe I lost the copy of the Trad. Bowhunter I was working out of on this bow.

Title: Re: BBH questions!
Post by: Dano on September 05, 2008, 05:14:00 PM

I'd glue it up.

Title: Re: BBH questions!
Post by: Pat B on September 05, 2008, 05:32:00 PM

I only make a few BB bows but what I like to do before glue up is to pre-tiller the belly slat so I get a smooth even bend in each limb. This way when the bow is glued up it will have a smooth even bend instead of just bending in the handle area.     Pat

Title: Re: BBH questions!
Post by: hit or miss on September 06, 2008, 04:49:00 PM

Thanks guys!

I'll try to post pics when I get closer to done.

Scott

Title: Re: BBH questions!
Post by: Eric Krewson on September 07, 2008, 09:22:00 AM

I don't tiller a slat before glue up, I do taper the slat. For most bows in the 50# range I start with about 9/16" at the fades and reduce the thickness 1/16" every 6" toward the tips. This is a side measurement on the slat as I make these round belly and the center of the slat will have a crown on it. I get a real even bend in the limbs when I glue up in a reflex this way.

 Last BBH I made this way really smoked an arrow.

Title: Re: BBH questions!
Post by: Rich Evans on September 08, 2008, 05:05:00 PM

I agree with Eric. I taper my hickory slat also. I think 1 & 3/4" wide is too wide for a bamboo backing. I would go 1 &1/4" wide. Follow the pattern in Dean Torge's video Hunting the Bamboo Backed Bow.  I have made 1 hickory and 2 bamboo  cored bows. Followed his pattern exact for a 63" bow and the hickory one is the best shooter of the group.  My .02 worth. Hope it helps.

Title: Re: BBH questions!
Post by: hit or miss on September 08, 2008, 07:10:00 PM

Great info guys!

I fired up the jointer and worked the bamboo down this weekend and hope to get to work on the bow later this week.

I was really wondering about the width of the slat.  It looks pretty wide to me but I layed out the shape last year and am just getting working on the bow now.  I used a pattern from a magazine and lost the article since then.