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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: talkingcabbage on January 21, 2009, 04:21:00 PM

Title: Fiberglass and laminations
Post by: talkingcabbage on January 21, 2009, 04:21:00 PM
Hey all.

My dad is asking me about building a laminate bow.  He wants to build the form then have me do the actual work.  The problem is that I've only build self and wood bows, never a laminate, although I've been thinking of making one this year.

He wants me to fiberglass the back and belly (which only makes sense), but he's asking me about using the fiberglass cloth then coating with epoxy.  I know from ya'lls buildalongs that you use fiberglass strips.  Is there any advantage (other than convenience) for using the strips?  He's a hard one to convince when he thinks he knows what he's talking about!   :knothead:

Finally, where can I get plans for some forms and where can I get some laminations?  I know just about nothing when it comes to the thickness and type of wood/glass I should use, so please help!     :help:
Title: Re: Fiberglass and laminations
Post by: Kanga on January 21, 2009, 06:58:00 PM
You can get plans from Binghams and the lams from Kennym right here.
Title: Re: Fiberglass and laminations
Post by: talkingcabbage on January 21, 2009, 10:12:00 PM
What (or where) is Binghams?  

Joe
Title: Re: Fiberglass and laminations
Post by: adam on January 21, 2009, 10:30:00 PM
You can google search Binghams projetcs. They have a web site and sell about anything and everything to make a lmainated bow.
Title: Re: Fiberglass and laminations
Post by: Asafan on January 22, 2009, 09:59:00 AM
Let your daddy will look anyone buildalong, on this site of them it is enough. And any nonsenses with a glass  cloth...
Title: Re: Fiberglass and laminations
Post by: Aeronut on January 22, 2009, 10:05:00 AM
http://www.binghamprojects.com/features.htm

I would think that using the glass lams you would have a more uniform thickness the length of your limb.  Lots simpler.

Dennis
Title: Re: Fiberglass and laminations
Post by: rkmnt2 on January 22, 2009, 09:43:00 PM
I think the glass cloth you are talking about using is probably a criss cross pattern (that's the type I have around here) where the bow glass is uni-directional. I'm thinking the criss cross would work but not sure how it would affect the performance. Filling the weave with resin to make it disappear would be very difficult to do without adding a lot of extra weight as well, wouldn't it?
  Like Dennis said...Lot's simpler and consistant using the real stuff!