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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: gograntgo10 on August 15, 2016, 01:06:00 PM

Title: Question for people who have made forms
Post by: gograntgo10 on August 15, 2016, 01:06:00 PM: What did you use for the hardware on your form?
I want to make a longbow but would like to avoid the $60 plus shipping to buy form clamps from Binghams. What all did you guys use? I see lots of people mention mending plates, but I can't find any that seem to be the right dimensions. Any help would be appreciated. The three components I would be looking for would be the the plates, the bolts, and the nuts.
Title: Re: Question for people who have made forms
Post by: monterey on August 15, 2016, 01:30:00 PM: Should be able to find those plates at the big box. Nuts and bolts at the hardware store. You don't need the fancy schmanzy handles on the nuts. Just keep a socket drive Handy.

Or, go to the rubber band system.
Title: Re: Question for people who have made forms
Post by: jsweka on August 15, 2016, 08:41:00 PM: Just one man's opinion, but the cost of the form clamps from Binghams is small in comparison to the total cost of everything you need to build a glass laminated bow. If you are planning to build more than one bow, it would definitely be worth buying them.
Title: Re: Question for people who have made forms
Post by: bowhntineverythingnh03743 on August 15, 2016, 09:09:00 PM: I too would by the hardware from Binghams. I have made 4 different forms and my most recent one has the clamps. I must admit that they are 10x easier to get together and you don't need any tools to secure everything down. In time I will change all my forms over to the Binghams's hardware. Just my two cents...
Title: Re: Question for people who have made forms
Post by: jess stuart on August 15, 2016, 09:43:00 PM: You can get metal strap cut to the length you require at most welding shops. I usually buy the 1.125" wide and .125" thick strap and drill my own holes. So far so good and quite a bit cheaper.
Title: Re: Question for people who have made forms
Post by: Robertfishes on August 15, 2016, 10:23:00 PM: The Binghams hardware is very nice, I have one form with it. I have been buying and using the mending plates and 3/8" bolts on the last 4 forms. I bought a bunch of wing nuts and use them in place of the nuts in this picture.. most any hardware store carries the plates. (http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt46/Robertfishes/bowform3.jpg) (http://s596.photobucket.com/user/Robertfishes/media/bowform3.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Question for people who have made forms
Post by: die_dunkelheit on August 16, 2016, 01:48:00 AM: Those straps will be in the same section, and made by the same manufacturer, as angle brackets. Get nuts & bolts to fit. In the past I've squared off the whole the bolt goes through to use a carriage bolt just so I only have one side to worry about, but that is adding unnecessary steps as it doesn't have to be very tight. Like Robert said, use wing nuts on the top.

@Robertfishes,
Is that ply screwed together with drywall screws to build up to width? How well is it holding up for you? Is there any glue in there too?
Title: Re: Question for people who have made forms
Post by: Robertfishes on August 16, 2016, 08:03:00 AM: I used titebond 2 glue between the 3 layers of plywood and 1 1/4" long drywall screws on both sides of the 1.75" wide form. I made 3 bow form blanks in 2009 and another in 2010 and 2015..they have help up with no problems. My shop is insulated and has a air conditioner and a dehumidifier that runs twice a day for 5 minutes. So the bow forms and bow wood in the shop have a pretty low moisture content..but not too low.. I drilled the holes out to 3/8" on the 12 inch long by 1 1/8" wide metal straps.