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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: bowhunter15 on March 19, 2016, 07:53:00 PM

Title: Glue up prep, how perfect?
Post by: bowhunter15 on March 19, 2016, 07:53:00 PM
How tight does the fit need to be for a good glue up with Unibond 800? I have my ipe prepped, and the bamboo is shaped, hand planed, and sanded. When I put the two together, they are very close, but there are a couple tiny gaps along the length. Not enough to see through, but the bamboo isn't perfectly flat like the ipe is. Since Unibond is gap filling, how close is good enough? Been working on trying to sand and hand plane, but I'm only getting marginally closer to perfect, and I'm not sure I can get the bamboo much flatter.
Title: Re: Glue up prep, how perfect?
Post by: macbow on March 19, 2016, 08:33:00 PM
Just put plenty of glue on and it should work out.
I don't worry and never dry fit the pieces.

I do occasionally have a small gap after clean up.
I use a mixture of super glue and saw dust to fill and sand smooth.
Title: Re: Glue up prep, how perfect?
Post by: bowhunter15 on March 19, 2016, 09:11:00 PM
Cool thanks!
Title: Re: Glue up prep, how perfect?
Post by: takefive on March 20, 2016, 02:18:00 AM
If you can't see light thru it, I'm sure it's close enough for Unibond.  I dry fit mine and like to slide the bamboo 1/2" or so past the edge of the belly lam and see how the surfaces match up that way, too.  A lot of times a tiny gap that I see along the edge will be gone when I cut the bow to its profile, anyway.
Title: Re: Glue up prep, how perfect?
Post by: Roy from Pa on March 20, 2016, 05:15:00 AM
Put a good coat of glue on both surfaces and go for it. Clamp it every two  inches. Pad the boo side so the clamps don't mar it.
Title: Re: Glue up prep, how perfect?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on March 20, 2016, 09:29:00 AM
Gluing both surfaces is key. As Roybert mentioned.
Title: Re: Glue up prep, how perfect?
Post by: macbow on March 20, 2016, 01:27:00 PM
I said I didn't dry fit, a little,explanation. My bamboo is run through my thickness planer after being cut to shape.
So it is flat.

I have a little more problem when fitting the handle like Roy and others shape theirs. So I use flat 1/4 inch or less pieces and stack them when I glue up.
Title: Re: Glue up prep, how perfect?
Post by: Roy from Pa on March 20, 2016, 03:02:00 PM
Mac, all it takes is time and patience my friend. I can fit a riser up to a bow, perfect in 10 minutes.
Title: Re: Glue up prep, how perfect?
Post by: Roy from Pa on March 20, 2016, 03:03:00 PM
Try it sometime,  just don't worry about time.
Title: Re: Glue up prep, how perfect?
Post by: macbow on March 20, 2016, 03:35:00 PM
Roy I have tried. I guess maybe I try to make it too perfect.
I have some wood I'd like to make into a,solid handle.
So will give it a go again.
Title: Re: Glue up prep, how perfect?
Post by: Roy from Pa on March 20, 2016, 04:01:00 PM
Make it 1/4" wider than the bows width at the riser. Same length as you need it too be. Lay the bow onto the side of the riser block and trace out the profile. Cut it out and fit it up. I know you can do that Mac... Heck if I can, you can. I'll even bet ole Kenny M could  do that.
Title: Re: Glue up prep, how perfect?
Post by: macbow on March 20, 2016, 04:50:00 PM
LOL
Title: Re: Glue up prep, how perfect?
Post by: macbow on March 21, 2016, 05:37:00 PM
Bowhunter15.  Did You get the glue up finished?