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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Bow Bender on July 19, 2009, 01:32:00 AM

Title: How do you make precision cuts for laminting a riser
Post by: Bow Bender on July 19, 2009, 01:32:00 AM

I have made laminated take down risers but have been limited to only straight laminations because that is all I am capable of producing. I want to make some with the graceful curves that many of the bowyers are producing now but I'm not sure how to make the precision cuts for a perfect fit.  
 I know how to use a pattern following router bit but I'm not sure if this is the best way . The patterns would have to be very precise. How would the patterns be made?  Can the patterns or the cuts be done with common tools or is a milling machine required?
 This probably has been discussed here before but I tried the search and couldn't find anything on the subject.
 Any help will be appreciated.

Title: Re: How do you make precision cuts for laminting a riser
Post by: Springbuck on July 19, 2009, 04:40:00 AM

I gave up.  I do lay up thin slats over an arc-shaped form sometimes.  Mostly It's beyond my tooling..

Title: Re: How do you make precision cuts for laminting a riser
Post by: Dmaxshawn on July 19, 2009, 08:01:00 PM

Hot melt your two pieces of riser materials together and cut and sand shape do whatever and then snap apart and you will have a perfect fit every time.  Sounds a little easier than it is.  Just take your time.

Shawn

Title: Re: How do you make precision cuts for laminting a riser
Post by: Mike Most on July 19, 2009, 09:46:00 PM

I asked a couple of the guys I know that make bows and they started with simple arcs in the back of the riser.

They cut to the line (with a band saw), on each piece or stacked them and cut them (as DMax says above)simultaneously. then sand them, I hold mine up to the light. I do believe the secret is the thin bending contrasting accent between both pieces.

It has worked for me (and if like me you dont have all the tools you would like to have),

Good Luck

Mike

Title: Re: How do you make precision cuts for laminting a riser
Post by: Aeronut on July 19, 2009, 10:19:00 PM

Like Mike stated, I cut the curve in the Walnut and sanded the pieces so they were flat.  I then glued the Osage and Hickory lams in place with Smooth-On, clamped them down, and put it in the hot box.
 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v511/aeronut/Osage%20Lam%20Bow/DSC05008.jpg)
 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v511/aeronut/Osage%20Lam%20Bow/DSC05102.jpg)

Both lams are approx. 3/16" thick.

Dennis

Title: Re: How do you make precision cuts for laminting a riser
Post by: strungstick on July 20, 2009, 12:43:00 AM

You can use a pattern router bit and make a jig, I made mine out of a sheet of micarta material.  It is a lot easier to cut and hand sand accurately 1/4" rather then 1 1/2" or 2" wide stock.  I just draw it out, cut it proud and hand sand it to fit.  Take your time and get the fit right, as you'll only have to do it once.

Title: Re: How do you make precision cuts for laminting a riser
Post by: RAU on July 20, 2009, 12:24:00 PM

Heres a pretty slick method using a bandsaw. Never tried it tho.


 www.geocities.com/salampsio/glass2.htm (http://www.geocities.com/salampsio/glass2.htm)

Title: Re: How do you make precision cuts for laminting a riser
Post by: Bow Bender on July 24, 2009, 02:38:00 AM

Thanks for the info everyone. I will give the different methods a try and see which works best for me. I will let you all know how it all works out but it may be a while before I get the time to try them.

 If anyone else has any methods I would like to hear about them.

Title: Re: How do you make precision cuts for laminting a riser
Post by: recurvericky on July 24, 2009, 03:19:00 PM

I made the jig posted by RAU above and it works great as long as you have a sharp blade and the correct size blade.

Ricky