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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: cobia on December 27, 2014, 01:53:00 PM
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I have used smooth on for glass backed bows heated in my oven, and uraq before. I don't think uraq is available anymore. What is the best glue to use on tri-lam or hickory/boo backed bows? Thanks for your help in advance
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I like Unibond, which is what replaced Urac from what I gather. I think some guys on here use Smooth On for their wood bows and others use Titebond 3. I've always had good glue ups with Unibond.
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"The best glue" depends to an extent on how you will prep the gluing surfaces. Will they be planer-smooth, ground coarsely in a lam grinder, surfaced with a toothing plane?
Some glues have gap filling properties and others don't. Pair them wrong and the bow's chances of delamination increase.
Personally, I use Smooth On for most everything nowadays and prep the surfaces freshly ground from my lam grinder, or the toothing plane (usually used on bamboo, risers, overlays, etc).
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To start they will be planer smooth. I do not have a lam grinder yet. That will be a new year purchase. Do you use a heat box like a glass bow? what grit should be used on a lam grinder? I know I have lots of questions but I just want to get it right.
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If you're using a gap filling glue like unibond, you can rough up the surface with a toothing blade or a hacksaw or jigsaw blade.
If you're using titebond, keep the mating surfaces smooth and tight fitting.
Dave.
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I have ontly tried a couple of Perry reflex r/d bows as far as laminated bows (both broke due to poor tillering and design). I have used and am sold on the g2 epoxy by system three. I have used it for many of my silk backed bows. It seems to have excellent tension and compression ratings compared to other epoxies. It also does not require hotboxing, although heat dramatically improves the cure time. The only actual glue failure I have had with it was due to an improperly built handle section on my latest bow. I did not fade the handle properly and it popped off. The bow is still quite functional though.
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Unibond800 or Smooth On. Either glue will dry ok at 70 degrees so a heat box is not necessary.
Bowjunkie you are so full of it :)