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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Carey on June 18, 2011, 10:07:00 PM

Title: laminated bow without glass
Post by: Carey on June 18, 2011, 10:07:00 PM

has anyone built a bow without glass? If so how safe is it?

Title: Re: laminated bow without glass
Post by: Ken Allen on June 18, 2011, 11:03:00 PM

I make all wood laminated bows using 4 lams of osage and bamboo back. If made right they are just as safe as glass bows.

Title: Re: laminated bow without glass
Post by: Bert Frelink on June 19, 2011, 10:21:00 AM

Pretty safe, just as safe as a glass bow, this one is Bamboo backed with a center lam of Walnut and the belly is Osage.
 (http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/quartermoonlongbows/IMG_0526.jpg)
 (http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/quartermoonlongbows/IMG_0537.jpg)
Bows are build without glass all the time, have a look through this forum and you will see some amazing craftsmanship.
Regards.
Bert.  :archer2:

Title: Re: laminated bow without glass
Post by: eflanders on June 19, 2011, 11:43:00 AM

I too make all-wood laminated bows.  I have not had one fail when properly constructed.  I have had them fail from poor construction but that will happen with any material used.

Title: Re: laminated bow without glass
Post by: Jake Fr on June 19, 2011, 04:18:00 PM

i would like to build a tri lam bow but how thick do you make the lams on them?  Bert that is an awsome looking bow good job

Title: Re: laminated bow without glass
Post by: Mark Smeltzer on June 19, 2011, 09:19:00 PM

Very doable, here are a couple of mine. I use Bamboo for a back.
I cant seem to find the other one I was looking for.
Mark

 (http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/MDS65/CopyofSnakeyOsageRecurve098.jpg)
 (http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/MDS65/RDYEW5.jpg)
 (http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/MDS65/SnakeyOsageRecurve110.jpg)
 (http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/MDS65/SnakeyOsageRecurve105.jpg)

Title: Re: laminated bow without glass
Post by: Mark Smeltzer on June 19, 2011, 09:24:00 PM

Here it is.
 (http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/MDS65/YewLam.jpg)

Title: Re: laminated bow without glass
Post by: rbbhunt on June 22, 2011, 11:50:00 AM

Take a look at Traditional bowyer's bible volume 4.  There's a good chapter on building all wood laminated bows.

Title: Re: laminated bow without glass
Post by: SEMO_HUNTER on June 24, 2011, 07:49:00 PM

All wood bows with a boo backing have been my favorite so far and I don't plan on ever using glass. I really don't see the need for it if the bow is built correctly, and I've got lucky a few times and done everything right.

But lately it doesn't seem that I can do anything right for some reason.    :knothead:  

I guess that's just bow building ain't it.

Looks like Mark gets lucky every once in awhile too?
You kill me with those awesome looking bows Mark, makes mine look like firewood.   :thumbsup:

Title: Re: laminated bow without glass
Post by: Mark Smeltzer on June 24, 2011, 08:16:00 PM

Thanks Chris,
 You got right, every once in a while it all comes together I had several failures in a row. Those bows can be a little tricky. A small flaw in the materials or a bone headed move by the bow maker and you have firewood.

Title: Re: laminated bow without glass
Post by: SEMO_HUNTER on June 24, 2011, 09:41:00 PM

I was kidding about being lucky on your part, I think you probably get more right than wrong.
At least I'm learning something from every one that I screw up the tiller on.
As far as the material taking a crap on ya, that's just gonna happen sometimes and even though you try to pick the best looking stuff there's always the possibility that there's something underneath that will jump up and bite ya.

I had my first osage belly fail on me about 3 weeks ago when I was making a BBO with R/D on my caul. The osage looked good from the outside, but after I had it about half tillered the grain ran right off the edge and raised a big fugly splinter....Ouch!
Didn't see that coming.

Title: Re: laminated bow without glass
Post by: red hill on June 24, 2011, 10:03:00 PM

Beautiful bow, Mark!
Stan

Title: Re: laminated bow without glass
Post by: Mark Smeltzer on June 25, 2011, 01:54:00 PM

Thanks Stan.
Chris, I just found some compression fractures on an Osage/Sinew bow I was making. That was a first with Osage.

Title: Re: laminated bow without glass
Post by: Art B on June 25, 2011, 02:20:00 PM

Only frets I've ever encountered with Osage has been with a sinew back Mark. Very few and very  small frets at that, and thankfully they never developed into anything any bigger. Another plus for using Osage  :thumbsup:  ........Art

Title: Re: laminated bow without glass
Post by: KellyG on June 25, 2011, 07:17:00 PM

I would not pass up any of them sticks, they are all just beautiful