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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: KenH on August 08, 2016, 08:00:00 PM

Title: 'Glass strands or ribbon?
Post by: KenH on August 08, 2016, 08:00:00 PM

Anyone ever seen or heard of a bowyer using strands of fiberglass or a flexible fiberglass ribbon laid in epoxy in the same way that sinew is laid in fish or hoof glue on a wood-sinew bow?  It would be used for the same strength purpose, not just a protective backing...

Title: Re: 'Glass strands or ribbon?
Post by: Bert Frelink on August 08, 2016, 09:32:00 PM

Nope    :dunno:

Title: Re: 'Glass strands or ribbon?
Post by: peanut39350 on August 08, 2016, 11:17:00 PM

I've seen the fiberglass tape on poor folk bows

  http://www.poorfolkbows.com/backings.htm

Title: Re: 'Glass strands or ribbon?
Post by: KenH on August 09, 2016, 07:39:00 AM

Yeah, I've heard of the glass tape on Poorfolk. But the guy who was talking about it in a G+ group was specifically talking about long 'glass strands...

Title: Re: 'Glass strands or ribbon?
Post by: LittleBen on August 09, 2016, 09:07:00 AM

Sounds like a lot of work/trial and error and I doubt it would be an improvement of Gordon's glass

Title: Re: 'Glass strands or ribbon?
Post by: Wolftrail on August 09, 2016, 01:25:00 PM

I use fiberglass woven material.  It works great but only for backing.  Not the Belly.  In the day thats what they used.  Look for the medium grade.  I hope that helps.

Title: Re: 'Glass strands or ribbon?
Post by: mikkekeswick on August 10, 2016, 02:44:00 AM

What would be the point in doing this?

Title: Re: 'Glass strands or ribbon?
Post by: monterey on August 10, 2016, 12:37:00 PM

Wolftrail,

I have used the automotive mat fiberglass and hobby store epoxy on board and self bows, but I can see no point in using this on a conventional glass.wood lam bow.

Title: Re: 'Glass strands or ribbon?
Post by: KenH on August 10, 2016, 05:52:00 PM

A guy on another forum mentioned that he was going to stiffen and increase the draw weight of a PVC bow by running fiberglass strands from one end to the other, inside the PVC, and embed the 'glass strands in epoxy -- pretty much what we do with sinew on a bow's back, but inside the formed PVC.  

I haven't run into the idea of loose strands of fiberglass.  I've always seen unidirectional or cross woven strips, sheets, or the usual 'bow glass'.

Some PVC bowyers I know stiffen/ increase the power of PVC bows by using two or three length of fiberglass rod (driveway marker rods) inside.  But design wise you're limited pretty much to straight bows or Magyar designs with siyahs on the ends of straight limbs.

Title: Re: 'Glass strands or ribbon?
Post by: Wolftrail on August 11, 2016, 10:48:00 PM

Quote

Originally posted by monterey:
Wolftrail,

I have used the automotive mat fiberglass and hobby store epoxy on board and self bows, but I can see no point in using this on a conventional glass.wood lam bow.

Just finishing up a bow now that I backed with Glass.  Why..?  Why Not...?  Its stronger than Linen, I dont use rawhide or sinew not on Laminate bows.   Besides Archery is a world of Glass which is now been taken over by Carbon.
Go figure.
Fred Bear Glass backed his early bows.