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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: 504state on January 27, 2019, 06:13:42 PM

Title: Tri lam belly wood
Post by: 504state on January 27, 2019, 06:13:42 PM
Hey guys it’s been a while. I know you get this question over and over again so I figured I would go ahead and ask.
I moved I just now got the time to move my tools in from storage. To my surprise I found a decent amount of Ipe and a couple pieces of bamboo. I want to try and tackle a try lam.
I figure ipe for the core, bamboo back, and maybe curly maple or an exotic belly wood. I would order the belly wood tapered.
What thickness belly wood should I use and what should I have it tapered down to?
What thickness should I cut the Ipe down to?
?
Lastly does anyone have a build for a basic R/D form made of 2 by 4?

Title: Re: Tri lam belly wood
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 27, 2019, 06:27:53 PM
Curly maple is not a good belly wood.

What weight bow you looking to make?
Title: Re: Tri lam belly wood
Post by: 504state on January 27, 2019, 06:58:41 PM
50-55@28”
Title: Re: Tri lam belly wood
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 27, 2019, 07:04:52 PM
I'd make the belly lam 1/4 to 5/16th thick parallel, core lam 3/16th thick at riser tapered to 1/16th at tips, boo 1/8th at riser, tapered to 1/16th at tips. Bow length 62-64 nock to nock.
Title: Re: Tri lam belly wood
Post by: 504state on January 27, 2019, 07:28:26 PM
Should I taper the belly lam going up the fades?
Title: Re: Tri lam belly wood
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 27, 2019, 08:19:09 PM
I don't do that..
Title: Re: Tri lam belly wood
Post by: Crooked Stic on January 27, 2019, 09:10:33 PM
THe only way I will use Curly maple in a limb would be a glass bow and >030 or less veneer---dont ask  :nono:
Title: Re: Tri lam belly wood
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 27, 2019, 09:38:14 PM
Yup, we tried curly maple one time on a bow as a backing and it blew apart.
Title: Re: Tri lam belly wood
Post by: 504state on January 27, 2019, 09:44:21 PM
Glad I asked. It would be pretty. What do you recommend that would be a good combo with Ipe and bamboo. I want to go for something other than Osage only because I have several Osage bows
Title: Re: Tri lam belly wood
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 27, 2019, 09:46:13 PM
Elm, black locust, hard maple or black walnut core lam..
Title: Re: Tri lam belly wood
Post by: 504state on January 27, 2019, 10:32:06 PM
Do you heat treat the belly lam at the fades to get a curve there?
Title: Re: Tri lam belly wood
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 28, 2019, 04:31:52 AM
I never heat treat anything.

The r/d all comes from the glue up in my form.

The glue joint is what retains the shape of the bow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bRYE1hPYy0

Out of form.



Title: Re: Tri lam belly wood
Post by: Crooked Stic on January 28, 2019, 08:59:46 AM
Roy that form is pretty neat for an ole guy.  :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: Tri lam belly wood
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 28, 2019, 09:16:12 AM
Thanks Mike.

Us old timers gotta work smarter:)
Title: Re: Tri lam belly wood
Post by: 504state on January 28, 2019, 11:58:50 AM
I found an bamboo backed Osage I started R/D that came out under weight. I think I’m going to get the limbs flat and add a thin piece of ipe for the belly and see what happens.
Title: Re: Tri lam belly wood
Post by: 504state on January 28, 2019, 01:13:39 PM
I’m trying to make one where the belly lam goes over the fades on the riser block.
Title: Re: Tri lam belly wood
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 28, 2019, 04:42:40 PM
Go for it.
Title: Re: Tri lam belly wood
Post by: BMorv on January 28, 2019, 05:20:45 PM
How thin is your ipe? 
It will have to be really thin to bend around most riser fades.   
 
Title: Re: Tri lam belly wood
Post by: 504state on January 28, 2019, 09:19:42 PM
I can get it as thin as I like. I figured I would have to go pretty damn thin.
I’ve made several bows with three laminations that shoot good. In the past I started with an ipe or Osage board roughed out and glued thin parallel piece of Purple Heart or something between the board and a bamboo backing. I glued it up on a form I made from 2 by 4 based on a build along I found somewhere.
I glued the handle straight to the board and the fades would transition into the Ipe or Osage. Plenty of wood for tillering.
I’m trying to make a bow where the belly wood comes up and covers the fades.