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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: wappkid on January 16, 2009, 03:44:00 PM

Title: Walnut riser
Post by: wappkid on January 16, 2009, 03:44:00 PM
My uncle gave me 5 walnut boards.Around 10 feet long each.They have been drying for years.I have 1 planed down around 3/4 of an inch.I am planning on cutting them down and glueing them together.Would that make a strong take down riser.
Title: Re: Walnut riser
Post by: kennym on January 16, 2009, 06:59:00 PM
In my opinion walnut will handle up to about 60#, especially if you laminate some accent strips in. Depending on the pc of walnut ,of course.
Title: Re: Walnut riser
Post by: wappkid on January 16, 2009, 07:20:00 PM
What if alternated the wood walnut and maple.Would that strenghten the riser.
Title: Re: Walnut riser
Post by: kennym on January 16, 2009, 07:34:00 PM
Maple is stronger than walnut. IMO

 Couldn't hurt.  I've never had trouble with walnut,but know some folks have...
Title: Re: Walnut riser
Post by: wappkid on January 16, 2009, 07:49:00 PM
When glueing the riser what kind of glue do you use.
Title: Re: Walnut riser
Post by: kennym on January 16, 2009, 07:51:00 PM
Smooth on is my pick.
Title: Re: Walnut riser
Post by: wappkid on January 16, 2009, 08:08:00 PM
What about tightbond 3
Title: Re: Walnut riser
Post by: bjansen on January 16, 2009, 08:57:00 PM
I had the same idea as you wappkid...I did this once with some scrap walnut and maple...3/4 board stock...I started with 3/4, and then decreased the thickness of each lamination (to try to avoid it lookign like I glued up 3/4 boards...I also used smooth on...I have not yet tried gluing up a riser with TB 3...

 (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/Bowerpics082-1.jpg)
Title: Re: Walnut riser
Post by: wappkid on January 16, 2009, 09:18:00 PM
wow that looks good
Title: Re: Walnut riser
Post by: Jason Kendall on January 16, 2009, 11:02:00 PM
I would do just as they suggest and laminate it with the maple.

Many years ago when I was just learning to build I did what you want to do and used TB glue, after a full day of shooting it the handle let go at the glue line. I would use Smooth-on or you may regret it like I did.
Title: Re: Walnut riser
Post by: Diamondback59 on January 17, 2009, 12:55:00 AM
ill use the tite bound 3 any day !! you simplay have to  use a toothing plane   rough up  ur glue lines iv never had a bow let go yet on over 200 iv done with tite bound 3 im sure rick schaffold can attest to that also  just make sure you run a toothing plane or hack saw blade over ur glue lines then clean em with acetone befor ya glue it up  brock
Title: Re: Walnut riser
Post by: wappkid on January 17, 2009, 02:26:00 AM
If I roughed the glue lines with some rough sand paper.And then heated the wood up in the heat box for 30 min or so.Then glued it with the tight bond 3.Do you think it would hold it together.
Title: Re: Walnut riser
Post by: Diamondback59 on January 17, 2009, 02:54:00 AM
yes but you dont need  the heat box  befor you use tite bond 3  maybe a good idea to heat the wood 2 or 3 days befor ya glue  if ya wanted to just to make sure it s dry  if i roughred it up with sand papaer id go with 36 grit  but i recomend you use a old hacksaw blade if you dont have a toothng comb    rember  your  glue line  is stronger than ur wood    brock
Title: Re: Walnut riser
Post by: wappkid on January 17, 2009, 03:10:00 AM
Thanks for the info.I am new to building bows. But not archery.
Title: Re: Walnut riser
Post by: Apex Predator on January 17, 2009, 05:44:00 AM
The problem with Tite Bond is that it releases with heat.  So, when you are laminating that riser into a glass bow, you may have problems.  I would recommend Smooth-on or Urac-185.
Title: Re: Walnut riser
Post by: wappkid on January 17, 2009, 05:04:00 PM
I am building a take down recurve.But I think I am going to go with the smooth on.
Title: Re: Walnut riser
Post by: wappkid on January 17, 2009, 05:07:00 PM
I have a couple of bottles of the tight bond 3.I thought I would try to get some use out of it.But I guess I will use it on somthing else.
Title: Re: Walnut riser
Post by: Diamondback59 on January 17, 2009, 07:38:00 PM
if ur bulding a take down recurve  id defintly go with the smooth on  but id use urac 185 befor smooth on  as for tite bond 3  i thought you were just glueing a backing onto a slat  and glueing walnut to maple ha  thats what i use it for  good luck brock
Title: Re: Walnut riser
Post by: HalfRack on January 22, 2009, 10:19:00 AM
Smooth on for the riser, why risk it? Good luck.  I've got a ton of Walnut, glad to hear it will work for a riser, Kenny have you used it for lams? Would be great to not need a veneer to make the limbs look good under clear glass.

-Mike
Title: Re: Walnut riser
Post by: Dick in Seattle on January 22, 2009, 12:55:00 PM
I raised this same question re TBIII with my building gurus awhile back and was strongly advised not to go there.   Advice was to lam up the riser and bake it in the kitchen oven at about 180, then,when baking the actual bow, hold the heat box temps to about 140 -150.

Incidentally, I like vintage bows, and walnut/maple lams were a common feature.   I have a Root longbow with a 25" riser of maple and walnut that i am planning on building a duplicate of.
Title: Re: Walnut riser
Post by: wappkid on January 22, 2009, 09:24:00 PM
I glued up the riser yesterday.I used smooth on in seems to be holding.
Title: Re: Walnut riser
Post by: kennym on January 22, 2009, 09:46:00 PM
William,I think you'll be happy going that route!

Mike,I have used walnut in limbs (total walnut in my current bow)with good results,I've read some pretty good bowyers like it also!
Title: Re: Walnut riser
Post by: wappkid on January 22, 2009, 09:53:00 PM
Kenny M. My next bow I build.I plan on buying laminations from you.I am not anywhere near finished with the first one yet.But I think I can get it to work.